ORCHIDS

You can own one of the
400 signed limited edition eArt prints
of each of these beautiful orchids

Click here

These are eArt Scans of real live Orchids.
They are not photographs, but the live Orchids
scanned directly into the computer by Dr. Proctor
using his eArt Scanning technique

For information on Orchids Worldwide, see information near the bottom of the page


***White Orchids & Purple Clematis on Red Background Item #2.01.01.016.001	White Orchids & Purple Clematis on Green Background Item #2.01.01.016.002	White Orchids and Purple Clematis on Dark Red Background Item #2.01.01.016.003

White Orchids on Green Background Item #2.01.01.016.004	White Orchids & Purple Clematis on Gold Background Item #2.01.01.016.005	White Orchids on Orange Background Item #2.01.01.016.006


Purple Orchids & Gladiolas with European Evergreen Leaves Item #2.01.01.016.007	Orchids, European Evergreen blossoms & Leaves, Elderberry & Wild Onions Item #2.01.01.016.008	Reverse Image of Orchids, Chrysanthemums, European Evergreen & Wild Onions Item #2.01.01.016.009

White Orchids without lighted background Item #2.01.01.016.010	White Orchids on Scarlet background Item #2.01.01.016.011	White Orchids on Lavender background Item #2.01.01.016.012


White Orchids on gold metallic background Item #2.01.01.016.013	White Orchids without backlighting Item #2.01.01.016.014	White Orchids on Balloon gift wrap paper Item #2.01.01.016.015

ORCHID FAMILY (Orchidaceae) of Plants
The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers says that Orchids are:
"Perennial herbs with complicated, unusual and often beautiful flowers borne singly or in spikes, racemes, or branched clusters".

In nature, Orchids can be orchids can be divided into four types according to growing conditions. Most Orchids are classified as epiphytes, which grow on trees. Epiphytes are air plants, which means they live on things which they take out of the air and moisture. Lithophytes are rock growers which cling to the surfaces of rocks. Saprophytes are those Orchids which grow in mulch such as leaf detritus and dirt on the floor of forests. The fourth type of Orchids are the Terrestrials which anchor themselves in the sand or soil where they grow. Inasmuch as Epiphytes are the most common type of Orchids, they can be grown, without or with very little soil, such as on tree bark, pieces of rough lumber, plaques of cork and other similar material including pebbles and similar material in a pot.

There are approximately 600 to 700 known genera and approximately 20,000 known species of Orchids in the World. However, as of 1986 (Biology of Plants 4th Edition by Peter H. Raven) there are approximately 60,000 registered hybrids, some of which involve two or more genera of Orchids. This certainly speaks to the popularity of Orchids.

Once the joy of only the rich, Orchids are now affordable by almost everyone. Orchids are one of the most beautiful flowering plants in the World. Fortunately many have blossoms which last for a long time, allowing enjoyment for weeks or months.

Some people believe that Orchids are parasites. Of the approximately 20,000 species, not one Orchid is a parasite. Orchids grow on trees and use them for location and support, but take nothing from the tree nor do anything to cause damage to the host tree.

You may believe Orchids are hard to grow and live only in Jungles. The truth is that some Orchids live for a very long time, are transportable, many do not require much care and their blossoms may last for months. What great flowers these are. Some are fragrant and some are not. Some live in cold climates while many are tropical. For additional information click on this web site http://retirees.uwaterloo.ca/~jerry/orchids/orchfaq.html.