Popular around the globe for their beauty and variety, orchids are the largest family of plants in the entire world. Orchids can live on the ground (terrestrial forms) like Spathoglottis plicata, attached to woody plants (epiphytic types) like Hoya wightii or even thrive under the ground. Orchids benefit their host trees by recycling nitrogen in the environment and maintaining a natural balance. Orchids are an indicator species as they only survive in a pollution free environment. The most popular orchid is Vanilla whose pods flavour our favourite foods like ice cream and cakes.
