ORCHID GLOSSARY

Some Pronounciation Guidelines for Common Genera

Brassavola [B.] (brah-SAH-voh-luh)
Cattleya [C.] (CAT-lay-uh)
Cymbidium [Cym.] (sim-BID-ee-uhm)
Cypripedium [Cyp.] (sip-ruh-PEE-dee-uhm)
Dendrobium [Den.] (den-DRO-bee-uhm)
Epidendrum [Epi.] (ep-uh-DEN-drum)
Laelia [L.] (LAY-lee-uh)
Miltonia [Milt.] (mil-TOE-nee-uh)
Oncidium [Onc.] (on-SID-ee-uhm)
Phalaenopsis [Phal.] (fal-uh-NOP-sis)
Sophronitis [Soph.] (sah-FRO-ny-tis)
Vanda [V.] (VAN-duh)

Definitions to Common Orchid Terms

AERIAL ROOTS - A type of root produced above or away from the growing media.

ANTHER - The part of the stamen that contains the pollen; located at the top of the column.

BACKBULB - An old pseudobulb, often without leaves but still alive and bearing live eyes, behind the actively growing portion of a sympodial orchid.

BASKET - A container for growing orchids, usually made of interlocked strips of wood. They offer maximum drainage and aeration of the growing media.

BIFOLIATE - Having two leaves. When used in reference to cattleyas it includes plants with two or more leaves.

BIGENERIC - A hybrid involving two different genera in the parentage.

CALLUS - A hard thickening or protruberence.

CHLOROPHYLL - The green pigment in plants which is essential to the production of food.

CHROMOSOME - Any of the microscopic rod-shaped bodies bearing genes.

CLONE - An individual plant and all of its vegetative divisions.

COLUMN - The organ of an orchid flower that is made up of both the male (anther) and female (style) reproductive parts.

COMPOST - A term commonly (but incorrectly) applied to any type of potting media for orchids.

CREST - A toothed, fringed, hairy adornment, or callus growth on the lip of some orchid flowers.

CROCK - Small pieces of broken pottery or Styrofoam "peanuts" placed in the bottom of a pot that aid in drainage.

CROSS - The mating of two different orchid clones, whether varieties, species, hybrids.

CROWN - The point where leaves grow from on monopodial orchids. Usually the V shaped area in the center of the plant.

CULTIVAR - An individual plant and all of its vegetative divisions; a horticultural variety.

DORSAL - Refers to the top side of a flower.

EPIPHYTE - A plant which grows perched upon another plant but DOES NOT derive its nourishment from it.

EYE - A live point from which a new growth can emerge.

FIR BARK - A potting media. Chopped or ground bark of the White, Red, or Douglas Fir.

GENE - The units in the chromosomes by which hereditary characteristics are transmitted.

GENUS - [pl. GENERA] - A natural grouping of closely related but distinct species.

GROWTH - An individual pseudobulb.

GREX - A flock or group, applied collectively to the progeny of a given cross.

HABIT - The general appearance of a plant (whether it's erect, pendant, climbing, weedy, etc )

HABITAT - The environment in which a plant normally grows.

HAPUU - A potting media. Hawaiian tree fern fiber.

HYBRID - The offspring of two or more different (i.e. different species or different hybrids) plants.

INFLORESCENCE - The flower stem with its flowers and buds.

INTERGENERIC - The offspring of the crossing of two plants of different genera.

KEIKI - Hawaiian word for baby, applied to an offset from an orchid plant (Especially Dendrobiums and Phalaenopsis).

LABELLUM - A modified petal, usually quite distinct from the other two petals; the median petal; the lip.

LEAD - An immature vegetative growth on a sympodial orchid that will develop into flower-producing structure.

LEAF SPAN - The size of a plant, measured from leaf tip to center of crown to other leaf tip. Used on phalaenopsis, paphiopedilums and other monopodial orchids.

LIP - A modified petal, usually quite distinct from the other two petals; the median petal; the labellum.

MONOFOLIATE - Having 1 leaf. Often used in reference to cattleyas.

MONOPODIAL - The form of growth in which there is a single stem that continues to grow from the apex indefinitely.

NOVELTY - A recent introduction, A seedling or a sport, possessing unexpected but desirable qualities.

OSMUNDA - A potting media. Chopped roots of Osmunda fern.

OVARY - The part of the flower which develops into the fruit.

PANICLE - An inflorescence with a main stem and branches.

PEANUTS- Peanut shaped Styrofoam packing material.

PERLITE - A potting media. Expanded volcanic rock.

PETAL - One of the three inner segments which isn't modified to form a lip.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS - The process by which plants convert water and CO2 into sugar using sunlight as an energy source.

PISTIL - The ovule (seed) bearing organ of a flower (including, when complete, the ovary, style, and stigma).

POLLINIUM - [pl POLLINIA] - The coherent mass of pollen grains found in the anther.

POLYPLOID - A term applied to a plant which possesses one or more extra sets of chromosomes beyond the normal number for that plant.

POUCH - Replaces the lip in Paphiopedilum alliance plants, it's actually two petals that have fused.

PSEUDOBULB - A thickened portion of the stem (usually aerial) of many orchids.

RACEME - An unbranched inflorescence of stalked flowers.

RHIZOME - A root bearing, horizontal stem which progressively sends up leafy shoots.

SCAPE - An inflorescence that arises from the base of the pseudobulb.

SEMI-ALBA - A term applied to a white with colored lip.

SEPAL - One of the three outer segments of the flower.

SHEATH - A leaf-like structure that enfolds a stem, pseudobulb, or young inflorescence.

SPECIES - [sing & pl] - A natural grouping of individuals which have constant and distinctive characteristics.

SPIKE - Commonly used to refer to a plant that's producing an inflorescence, i.e. In spike. An unbranched, upright flower stem bearing a number of short-stalked flowers.

SPRAY - An arching, multi- flowered flower stem which may or may not branch.

STAMEN - The pollen bearing organ of a flower.

STIGMA - The part of the pistil which receives the pollen.

STYLE - The slender part of the pistil, which connects the ovary with the stigma

SUBSTANCE - The thickness and firmness of tissue in flowers.

SYMPODIAL - A form of growth in which each new shoot, arising from the base of the previous growth, is complete in itself and terminates in a potential inflorescence.

TERRESTRIAL - Growing on the ground, either in soil or leaf litter.

TEXTURE - The features of a flowers surface which enhance appearance sparkly, velvety, etc).

THROAT - The tubular portion of the lip, as in Cattleya.

TREE FERN - A potting media. Chopped trunks of tropical ferns (primarily Cyatheaceae family).

VELAMEN - The thick corky layer of cells covering the roots of epiphytic orchids. It serves to protect the roots and also as a rapid water absorption device.

VIRUS - A type of infectious agent, much smaller than common microorganisms, several forms of which can infect orchids.