Orchid

flowers · plants · pollinators

Master pollination magicians. Orchids have tricks that seem straight out of a magic show. Some orchids even look like female insects to trick male insects into visiting them, while others use special colors, patterns, and scents to attract the perfect pollinator.

Found everywhere but Antarctica. Orchids live on every continent except Antarctica, from tropical rainforests to dry deserts. The tropical regions have the most orchid varieties though, with thousands of different kinds.

Many live in trees. A lot of orchid species are epiphytes, meaning they grow on tree branches instead of in soil. They get water from rain and air, making them perfect for humid tropical forests.

Tiny seeds need fungal friends. Orchid seeds are so incredibly small they're almost like dust. They can't grow alone and need help from special fungi in the soil to sprout and survive.

Some have no leaves at all. Believe it or not, some orchid species don't have leaves. Instead, their green roots do the work of making food from sunlight, or they rely completely on fungal partners to feed them.