XJNIVE 7 BSIT^ }; 



ORCHIDS. 



CHAPTER I. 



NATURE AND HABITS OF ORCHIDS. 



THE primary division of Orchids is into two general 

 classes, those growing upon trees, and those growing 

 upon the ground, in other words epiphytal and terrestrial. 

 In hot countries the species are generally epiphytes ; in 

 temperate regions we find only the terrestrial classes. 

 These rules are not, however, without some exceptions ; 

 epiphytes often grow upon rocks or in earth (though in 

 both cases, the position is rather for support than one 

 of nourishment), and terrestrial Orchids abound in hot 

 countries. 



The peculiar characteristics of Orchidaceous plants 

 will be fully described in a future chapter ; suffice it at 

 present to say that there is no order of plants the struc- 

 ture of whose flowers is so anomalous as regards the re- 

 lation borne to each other by the parts of reproduction, 

 or so singular in respect to the form of the floral envel- 

 opes. Orchidaceous plants inhabit all parts of the 

 world except those which are excessively dry or exces- 

 sively cold, both of which extremes of temperature appear 

 uncongenial to their nature. 



They abound chiefly in regions with a mild climate, 

 moist and warm during the greater part of the year. 



