{"id":5551,"date":"2010-03-17T09:00:20","date_gmt":"2010-03-17T13:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nybg.org\/wordpress\/?p=5551"},"modified":"2010-03-11T12:58:13","modified_gmt":"2010-03-11T16:58:13","slug":"what-makes-an-orchid-different-from-other-flowers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nybg.org\/blogs\/plant-talk\/2010\/03\/exhibit-news\/what-makes-an-orchid-different-from-other-flowers\/","title":{"rendered":"What Makes an Orchid Different from Other Flowers?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\nJessica Blohm is Interpretive Specialist for Public Education.<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\"\"<\/a>Orchids are one of the largest genera of flowering plants, with about 30,000 species worldwide. Orchids vary widely in their appearance. Many have stunningly beautiful flowers with stripes and spots, while others are almost ugly with hairs and even warty bumps. What do all these striking flowers have in common?<\/p>\n

In describing a plant genus so vast and so diverse, it is almost safe to say that there are no rules. However, botanists generally agree that one feature above all others defines the orchid and differentiates it from virtually all other flowering plants: the fusion of the male portion of the flower (stamen) and female portion (pistil) into one structure called the column\u2014often visible protruding from the center.<\/p>\n

Look for these orchid parts on the more than 7,000 orchids in The Orchid Show: Cuba in Flower<\/em><\/a>. (C<\/strong>lick on the image to view it larger<\/strong>.<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Sepal<\/strong>\u2014one of the three outer parts of an orchid flower that protects the petals
\nPollini<\/strong>a\u2014a solid mass of pollen found in the anther
\nColumn<\/strong>\u2014the fused sexual organ of an orchid flower
\nPetal<\/strong>\u2014the three petals on an orchid are the true flower; one is modified into a lip
\nLip (or Labellum)<\/strong>\u2014a specialized petal, unique to orchids
\nOvary<\/strong>\u2014the part of the flower that develops into the fruit
\nOvule<\/strong>\u2014a small protuberance in the ovary, capable of forming a seed when fertilized
\nStigma<\/strong>\u2014the sticky area of the pistil that receives the pollen<\/p>\n

Get Your Tickets<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jessica Blohm is Interpretive Specialist for Public Education. Orchids are one of the largest genera of flowering plants, with about 30,000 species worldwide. Orchids vary widely in their appearance. Many have stunningly beautiful flowers with stripes and spots, while others are almost ugly with hairs and even warty bumps. What do all these striking flowers… <\/p>\n

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