Things to See in the Languedoc:   Wildlife and National Parks:   Orchids

The Orchidaceae family is the largest and most diverse of the flowering plant families, with over 800 described genera and 25,000 species. There are another 100,000+ hybrids and cultivars produced by horticulturists, created since the introduction of tropical species in the 19th century. About 800 new species are added each year. Orchids, through their interactions with pollinators and their symbiosis with orchid mycorrhizal fungi, are considered by some to be the most advanced known examples of floral evolution. All orchid species are protected under CITES as potentially threatened or endangered in their natural habitat. Many other species are protected by both international and national legislation. The term 'orchid' derives from the Greek orchis, meaning "testicle", from the appearance of subterranean tuberoids of the genus Orchis. The word "orchis" was first used by Theophrastos (372/371 – 287/286 BC), in his book "De historia plantarum" (The natural history of plants). theophrastos was a student of Aristotle and is considered the father of botany and ecology. Orchids, like the grasses and the palms, which they resemble in some ways are monocotyledons. They have one cotyledon, or embryonic leaf, in contrast to the two of most flowering plants. Orchids are widely distributed, occurring in every habitat, except Antarctica and in deserts. Most advanced orchids have five basic features: The presence of a column, also called gynostemium Flowers are bilaterally symmetric (zygomorphic) Pollen are glued together into the pollinia, a mass of waxy pollen on filaments. Seeds are microscopically small, lacking endosperm (food reserves) in the overall majority of the species. There are notable exceptions, such as Disa cardinalis, whose seeds may grow to a length of 1.1 mm. Seeds of Vanilla may weigh 20 times or more than that of other orchids. Seeds can, under natural circumstances, germinate only in symbiosis with specialised fungi. Orchids have simple leaves with parallel veins. Their shape is highly variable between species; ovate, lanceolate, or orbiculate. Their size and shape can be an aid in identifying the orchid, since it reflects the taxonomic position. The leaves can be enormous or minute, or they can even be lacking, as in the Ghost Orchid. The structure of the leaves corresponds to the specific habitat of the orchid. Species that typically bask in sunlight, or grow on sites which can be occasionally very dry, have thick, leathery leaves. The laminas are covered by a waxy cuticle. These retain their necessary water supply. Shade species, on the other hand, have tall, thin leaves. They cannot tolerate a drop in atmospheric humidity or exposure to direct sunlight. Between these two extremes, there is a whole range of intermediate forms.

Orchids in the Langudoc Anacamptis fragrans Anacamptis laxiflora Anacamptis morio Anacamptis palustris Anacamptis papilionacea Anacamptis picta Anacamptis pyramidalis Cephalanthera damasonium Cephalanthera longifolia Cephalanthera rubra Dactylorhiza fuchsii Dactylorhiza incarnata Dactylorhiza maculata Dactylorhiza majalis Dactylorhiza occitanica Dactylorhiza sambucina Epipactis atrorubens Epipactis helleborine Epipactis microphylla Epipactis muelleri Epipactis palustris Epipactis rhodanensis Epipactis tremolsii Gymnadenia conopsea Himantoglossum hircinum H. robertianum Limodorum abortivum Liparis loeselii Listera ovata Neotinea maculata Neotinea tridentata Neotinea ustulata Neottia nidus-avis Ophrys aegirtica Ophrys apifera Ophrys arachnitiformis Ophrys araneola Ophrys aurelia Ophrys bilunulata Ophrys ciliata Ophrys drumana Ophrys forestieri Ophrys funerea Ophrys incubacea Ophrys insectifera Ophrys lupercalis Ophrys lutea Ophrys massiliensis Ophrys passionis Ophrys provincialis Ophrys pseudoscolopax Ophrys scolopax Ophrys splendida Ophrys sulcata Ophrys virescens Orchis anthropophora Orchis mascula Orchis militaris Orchis olbiensis Orchis provincialis Orchis purpurea Orchis simia Platanthera bifolia Platanthera chlorantha Serapias parviflora Serapias vomeracea Spiranthes aestivalis Spiranthes spiralis

There are many types of specializations within the Orchidaceae. Best known are the seemingly endless structural variations in the flowers that encourage pollination by particular species of insects, bats, or birds.

The typical orchid flower is. bilaterally symmetric. Notable exceptions are the genera Mormodes, Ludisia and Macodes.

It is in the variety and the refinement of their reproductive methods that orchids truly amaze. On many orchids, the lip (labellum) serves as a landing pad for flying insects. The labellum is sometimes adapted to have a color and shape which attracts particular male insects via mimicry of a receptive female insect. Some orchids are reliant solely on this deception for pollination. After pollination, the epigynous ovary starts developing and produces a many-seeded capsule.

The Lady's Slipper (Paphiopedilum) has a deep pocket that traps visiting insects, with just one exit. Passage through this exit leads to pollinia being deposited on the insect.

Many neotropical orchids are pollinated by male orchid bees, which visit the flowers to gather volatile chemicals they require to synthesize pheromonal attractants. Each type of orchid places the pollinia on a different body part of a different species of bee, so as to enforce proper cross-pollination.

A Eurasian genus Ophrys has some species that look and smell so much like female bumblebees that male bees flying nearby are irresistibly drawn in and attempt to mate with the flower, such as with the Bumblebee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora). The viscidium, and thus pollinia, stick to the head or the abdomen of the bumblebee. On visiting another orchid of the same species, the bumblebee pollinates the sticky stigma with the pollinia. The filaments of the pollinia have, during transport, taken such position that the waxy pollen are able to stick in the second orchid to the stigma, just below the rostellum. Such is the refinement of the reproduction. If the filaments had not taken the new position on the bee, the pollinia could not have pollinated the original orchid. Other species of Ophrys are mimics of different bees or wasps, and are also pollinated by males attempting to mate with the flowers, and other orchid genera practice similar deception.

An underground orchid in Australia, Rhizanthella slateri, never sees the light of day, but depends on ants and other terrestrial insects to pollinate it.

The orchid ovary is always located behind the flower. If pollination was successful, the sepals and petals fade and wilt but they remain attached to the ovary. The epigynous ovary typically develops into a capsule that is dehiscent by 3 or 6 longitudinal slits, while remaining closed at both ends. The ripening of a capsule can take 2–18 months. The microscopic seeds are very numerous (over a million per capsule in most species). They blow off after ripening like dust particles or spores, barely visible to the human eye. Since they lack endosperm, they must enter symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi to germinate. These fungi provide the necesary nutrients to the seeds.

Vanilla , is one of the rare examples of orchids used for food. Vanilla seeds and their surrounding pulp within the seed pod are used in the food industry to make the extremely popular flavouring "vanilla extract".