Standing in front of the display window of a flower shop in a cold climate country, everybody is fascinated by the single orchid flower standing in a slender vase. The shimmering dispersion of colours and the elegance of their shape let us think of warm, humid days in the tropics, where this flower belongs to. Orchids have always held a fascination for people; there is an air of mystery surrounding them. Mention the word "orchid" and terms such as exotic, rare, expensive, beautiful, colourful and unique will arise. Everyone will have a different perception and all of these, no matter how diverse, will be correct.

With more than 27 000 species, orchids are the largest family in the plant kingdom. Much bigger is the number of hybrids, from which more than
50 000 have been described. Many of these hybrids are important commercial plants that are used as cut flowers and potted plants to satisfy strong demand, both locally and internationally. With the exception of glacial regions and arid deserts, orchids grow all over the world, even on Greenland some species can be found. In the tropics they are numerous and colourful and are often seen as characteristic of the region. In Thailand alone 900 different orchid species can be found.

Orchids have their own unique characteristics and charms. The mere fact that their roots live on air is enough to make us wonder how they can sustain themselves. The roots of the orchid are different from those of other plants, consisting of a special sponge-like layer of tissues called velamen that covers up the true roots inside. This special sheathing acts as a moisture collecting device while protecting the roots underneath from direct sunlight.

We can categorise orchids by looking at their growing habits. Many have roots which grow into the ground or dirt like most other plants (terrestrial). Another group has roots which grasp and cling to trees, without in any way harming or taking away food from the host (epiphytic), and those who find unusual places to grow such as in the crevices of rocks on the side of cliffs (lithophytic).

In the tropics, most species can be found on trees in the upper canopy of the rain forests, where humidity is high year round. In regions, which have a distinct precipitation and temperature cycle, orchids have adapted to the dry period by storing water and nutrients in the swollen lower part of the stem, the pseudobulb. Other orchid species form succulent leaves which serve the same purpose and help in reducing the loss of water by evaporation.

What makes orchids different from other flowering plants? The flowers are, what clearly distinguish orchids from other plants: Some bear large flowers of bright hues, and some have smaller or even tiny little flowers of softer tones. They may flower singly or in small groups of two or three per stem. Others will bloom in a big cluster or a bunch with some standing up on an erect stem and yet others bending down in a flowing cluster. The scent of orchids also differs, ranging from those without any smell to a soft and subtle scent through to a more full-bodied and pungent fragrance.

Each orchid flower has two sets of petals consisting of three outer and three inner ones. While the outer ones are similar to each other the three inner petals will usually consist of an identical pair and a singular one that is unique in size, shape and often also in colour. This petal is called lip or labellum, and is almost always highly modified and quite different from the other segments in size, shape and colour. This structure often plays an important part in orchid pollination. Pollinators, such as bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, ants and even birds are attracted by form, colour and often fragrance.

When the pollen comes in contact with the stigma, the bloom will rapidly wither and the ovary will expand into a pod. As maturity peaks, the full-grown pod will burst open longitudinally and the mass of dust-like seeds inside will be distributed into the air. Some of these pods can contain up to 4 million seeds, depending on the species. The seeds will be air-borne until, with great luck, some land on a host tree. As the seeds lack any nutrients, they depend on a specific kind of fungi (mycorrhiza), which is essential to help in finding food during the first part of the seedling's growth until it can mature into another orchid plant. The mortality rate in the wild is enormous.

For this reason, cultured orchid seeds start their life in the sterile atmosphere of laboratories on a special nutrient-rich culture medium. This technique has made it possible to produce large quantities of both species and hybrids in a sterile environment. Today, the most attractive orchid species are entrenched in cultivation and have been propagated by division or by seed. Depending on the genus or kind, orchids can take from twelve months to twelve years from germination to flowering. Most wild orchids flower only once a year and the shape or form of their blooms are not as popular on the market. Wild orchids are usually raised only by enthusiasts, who truly love the natural looks of these "miniatures" or "botanicals", as they are known.

While the collecting of popular species from the rain forests can threaten the survival of wild orchid populations, their main enemy is habitat destruction. Southeast Asia is one of the world's most densely populated regions, and its virgin forest continues to be cleared and burnt. New species continue to be discovered, and a number of "lost" species have been relocated. Yet one wonders how many species, both plant and animal, have become extinct before they have even been recorded.

On Lanta Island, Lanta Orchid Nursery has specialised in cultivating the native orchids from all regions of Thailand. More than 100 species of the more than 900 native to Thailand are on display. Lanta Orchid Nursery is located in the mountains above Lanta Long Beach, opposite Sumate Elephant Trekking. It is open from November to April daily from 09:00 to 17:00.