What Makes an Orchid an Orchid?
Orchidaceae, or the Orchid family, is the largest family of all flowering plants with over 30,000 species identified worldwide. They are mostly found in tropical regions, growing off the trunks and branches of various trees. In more temperate climates – such as the wetlands and forests of Indiana – orchids are found growing out of the ground. Small and sometimes indistinguishable, they are often overlooked by hikers and wildflower enthusiasts. Understanding a few special characteristics of the orchid may help you find them on your next outing. Orchids are identified by a few unique floral characteristics: three sepals, three petals and a column. The sepals are the outer segments of the flower, and can either look very similar to the petals or entirely different. One of the inner segments – the petals – is called the lip which is the lowermost petal that differs in shape, size and color from the other two. The lip, or labellum, has been modified over time to attract and be used as a lan
