Orchid Diversification

Extremely diversified plants, orchids are found all around the world, except in the deserts, so it is always possible to find one species which can thrive in the conditions you can provide. Although they can be found at from sea-level to 4,000 meters in altitude, they are most numerous between 500 and 2,000 meters above the sea.

Some orchid species are among the world's smallest flowering plant like Eurystyles or many Pleurothallidinae plants. Some others can reach 4 meters height like Selenipedium (growing in Tropical America) or Grammatophyllum papuanum (Papua-New Guinea).

The number of genera is calculated at about 600, the number of species between 25,000 and 30,000 and the hybrids more than 100,000 already registered.

The geographical distribution is not regular around the world. There are a few genera which are represented in almost every continent but, in general, they have a restricted distribution.


Distribution

  • Bulbophyllum: North, South and Central America, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

  • Cattleya, Epidendrum, Laelia, Masdevallia, Maxilaria, Odontoglossum, Oncidium, Pleurothallis: Northern Mexico, South and Central America.

  • Coelogyne: Asia.

  • Cymbidium: Africa, Asia , Oceania.

  • Cypripedium: North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

  • Dendrobium: Tropical and sub tropical Asia and Oceania.

  • Habenaria: North, Central and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

  • Paphiopedilum: Asia and Oceania.

  • Phalaenopsis, Vanda, Renanthera: Asia.

  • Vanilla: North, Central and South America, Equatorial Africa and Southeast Asia.