Cymbidium Yellow flowers of a cymbidium orchid (Cymbidium species). (more) orchid plant Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print print Print Please select which sections you would like to print: Table Of Contents Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/plant/orchid Feedback External Websites Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Frontiers - Orchid Genomics and Developmental Biology The Spruce - Orchid: Plant Care and Growing Guide National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Physiological diversity of orchids Iowa State University Extension and Outreach - Yard and Garden - Growing Orchids Indoors San Diego Zoo Animals and Plants - Orchid Smithsonian Institution - National Museum of American History - Orchidaceae Purdue University - The Orchid Grower (PDF) K-State Research and Extension - Johnson County - How to care for Orchids PennState Extension - Orchids as Houseplants Iowa State University Extension and Outreach - Horticulture and Home Pest News - Growing Orchids Indoors The Clemson Extension Home and Garden Information Center - Orchids Missouri Botanical Garden - Orchids: Culture (PDF) Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. orchid - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11) orchid - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Orchidaceae Written by Calaway H. Dodson Senior Curator, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis. Coauthor of Orchid Flowers: Their Pollination and Evolution; The Biology of the Orchids. Calaway H. Dodson Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Jun 24, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Related Topics: lady’s slipper jewel orchid Florida butterfly orchid Pleurothallidinae Epipactis (Show more) See all related content { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is the origin of the word u201Corchidu201D? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The word u201Corchidu201D is derived from the Greek word u201Corchisu201D for testicle, due to the shape of the root tubers in some species of the genus Orchis." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is the ecological distribution of orchids? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Orchids are primarily tropical but are also found in temperate zones. They thrive from sea level to 4,600 meters in elevation and are common in cloud-forest associations on mountainsides. While tropical orchids are commonly epiphytic (growing on other plants), temperate orchids are typically terrestrial and grow in the soil." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is the economic importance of orchids? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Many orchids are important horticulturally as ornamental plants and cut flowers. Vanilla, extracted from the unripe fruits of Vanilla orchids, is the only commercially important product. Some orchids are used in folk medicine and as food." } } ] } Top Questions What is the origin of the word “orchid”? The word “orchid” is derived from the Greek word “orchis” for testicle, due to the shape of the root tubers in some species of the genus Orchis.

　　What is the ecological distribution of orchids? Orchids are primarily tropical but are also found in temperate zones. They thrive from sea level to 4,600 meters in elevation and are common in cloud-forest associations on mountainsides. While tropical orchids are commonly epiphytic (growing on other plants), temperate orchids are typically terrestrial and grow in the soil.

　　What is the economic importance of orchids? Many orchids are important horticulturally as ornamental plants and cut flowers. Vanilla, extracted from the unripe fruits of Vanilla orchids, is the only commercially important product. Some orchids are used in folk medicine and as food.

　　Spider orchidA cluster of spider orchid (Brassia cochleata) flowers in bloom.(more)orchid, (family Orchidaceae), any of a large family of nearly 900 genera and more than 26,000 species of attractively flowered plants distributed throughout the world, especially in wet tropics. Orchidaceae (order Asparagales) is arguably the largest angiosperm family, frequently surpassing the aster family (Asteraceae) as new species are discovered. The word orchid is derived from the Greek word (orchis) for testicle because of the shape of the root tubers in some species of the genus Orchis. These nonwoody perennial plants are generally terrestrial or epiphytic herbs (i.e., growing on other plants rather than rooted in soil). Those attached to other plants often are vinelike and have a spongy root covering called the velamen that absorbs water from the surrounding air. Most species manufacture their own food, but some are helped to obtain nourishment by a fungus living in their roots. See also list of plants in the family Orchidaceae.