What is an orchid, anyway?
Orchids are plants of the family Orchidaceae, which may contain more species than any other plant family (the verdict is still out on this — at present, the sunflower family still has a higher count of described species, but the orchids are nipping at their heels). Botanists believe the final tally of orchid species will eventually land somewhere between 25,000 to 30,000 species. But with the rampant destruction orchid habitat around the world, undescribed species are being lost at an alarming rate and we may never know the full extent of the diversity of this amazing plant family. This is why habitat conservation is so very important and time is truly of the essence. For more on the topic of conservation, see Orchid Conservation: The Need for a Balanced and Rational Approach.
