Orchid Kitchens And Bedrooms
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They're Where We Get Vanilla
This bottle of vanilla extract that you pour into your favorite cookie and cake recipes comes from the orchid Vanilla planifolia. It's the only orchid that produces an edible fruit (yep, vanilla is fruit!).
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They Come in Many (and Rare) Colors
With the exception of black, orchids sport basically every color of the rainbow. Although rare, there are even blue orchids, and the flowers bloom in dual color combos, too.
Courtesy of Björn S via Flickr Creative Commons
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They Know How to Trick Insects
Orchids know just how to get insects to pollenate. Certain types, like this (really adorable) bee orchid, closely resemble insects, which tricks the bugs into coming close. To be blunt, the insect might try to mate with the flower, and will take the pollen when it finally wises up and flies away.
Courtesy of McZusatz via Wikimedia Commons
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Some Varieties Look Just Like Animals
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They Grow In Every Continent Except One
These lovely flowers aren't only found in the tropics. Instead, the can grow in almost any habitat, and can even bloom underground! But alas, you won't find them in icy Antarctica.
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There Are Over 25,000 Different Species
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The Record-Holding Orchid Had 91 Blooms
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They Can Reach Striking Heights
The world's tallest orchid, the Sobralia altissima from the forest of Peru, can grow to a mighty 44 feet tall.
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They Have The Smallest Seeds in the World
The size of an orchid seed is super tiny – around the size of a particle of dust. Because of this, it can take years for an orchid to fully bloom from seeds.
Source: https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/gardening/g2489/orchid-fun-facts/
