The number of species of orchids is greater than that of any other monocotyledonous order—not even excepting grasses amounting to 6000, contained in 400 genera. This large number is partly accounted for by the diligent search in all countries that has been made for these plants for purposes of cultivation they being held at present in the greatest esteem by plant lovers, and prices being paid for new or rare varieties which recall the days of the tulipomania.
The economic uses of orchids are not remarkable. When we have mentioned vanilla (q.v.), which consists of the fleshy pods of an orchid, we have mentioned about the only economic product that now comes into market. Salep (q.v.), still used in the Levant, consists of the dried tubers of a terrestrial orchid, and contains a relatively large amount of nutritious matter. The cultivation of orchids is treated under Horticulture.
The order is divided into two main groups based on the number of the stamens and stigmas. The first Diandreae, has two or rarely three fertile stamens and three functional stigmas. It contains two small genera of tropical Asia and Africa with almost regular flowers, and the large genus Cypripedium containing about 80 species in the north-temperate zone and tropical Asia and Arnerica. In Cypripedium two stamens are present, one on each side of the column instead of one only at the top, as in the group Monandreae, to which belong the remaining genera in which also only two stigmas are fertile. What may be considered the normal number of stamens is, as has been said, six, arranged in two rows. In most orchids the only stamen developed to maturity is the posterior one of the three opposite to the lip (anterior before the twisting of the ovary), the other two, as well as all three inner ones, being entirely absent, or present only in the form of rudiments. In Cypripedium two of the outer stamens are wanting; the third—the one, that is, which corresponds to the single fertile stamen in the Monandreae—forms a large sterile structure or staminode; the two lateral ones of the inner series are present, the third being undeveloped. This arrangement may be understood by reference to the following diagram, representing the relative position of the stamens in orchids generally and in Cypripedium. The letter L indicates the position of the labellum; the large figures indicate the developed stamens; the italic figures show the position of the suppressed stamens.
| 1 | 1 |
| 4 5 | 4 5 |
| 6 | 6 |
| 2 3 | 2 3 |
| L | L |
| Arrangement of stamens in Orchis. |
Arrangement of stamens in Cypripedium. |
The Monandreae have been subdivided into twenty-eight tribes, the characters of which are based on the structure of the anther and pollinia, the nature of the inflorescence, whether terminal or lateral, the venation of the leaf and the presence or absence of a joint between blade and sheath, and the nature of the stem. The most important are the following:
Ophrydineae, with about 45 genera, of terrestrial orchids, mainly north temperate, including the British genera Orchis, Aceras, Ophrys, Herminium, Gymnadenia and Habenaria. Also some genera mainly represented in South and tropical Africa, such as Satyrium, Visa and others.
Neottiineae, including 90 genera, also terrestrial, contains thirteen more or less widely distributed tropical or subtropical sub tribes, some of which extend into temperate zones; one, Cephalanthereae, which includes our British genera Cephalanthera and Epipactis is chiefly north temperate. The British genera Spiranthes, Listera and Neottia are also included in this tribe, as is also Vanilla, the elongated stem of which climbs by means of tendril-like aerial roots — the long fleshy pod is the vanilla used for flavouring.
Coelogyninae, 7 genera, mostly epiphytes, and inhabitants of tropical Asia. A single inter node of each shoot is swollen to form a pseudo bulb.
Liparidinae, 9 genera, terrestrial, two, Malaxis and Corallorhiza, are British. Liparis is a large genus widely distributed in the tropics.
Pleurothallidinae, characterized by a thin stem bearing one leaf which separates at a distinct joint; the sepals are usually much larger than the petals and lip. Includes 10 genera, natives of tropical America, one of which, Pleurothallis, contains about 400 species. Masderallia is common in cultivation and has often brilliant scarlet, crimson or orange flowers.
Laeliinae, with 22 genera, natives of the warmer parts of America, including three of those best known in cultivation, Epidendrum, Catlleya and Laelia. The jointed leaves are fleshy or leathery; the flowers are generally large with a well-developed lip.
Phajinae, includes 15 genera chiefly tropical Asiatic, some—Phajus and Calanthe—spreading northwards into China and Japan.
Cystopodiinae, includes 9 genera tropical, but extending into north temperate Asia and South Africa; Eulophia and Lissochilus are important African genera.
Catasetinae, with three tropical American genera, two of which, Cataselum and Cycnoches, have di- or tri-morphic flowers. They are cultivated for their strange-looking flowers.
Dendrobiinae, with six genera in the warmer parts of the Old World; the chief is Dendrobium, with 300 species, often with showy flowers.
Cymbidiinae, with 8 genera in the tropics of the Old World. The leaves are generally long and narrow. Cymbidium is well known in cultivation.
Oncidiinae, with 44 genera in the warmer parts of America. Odontoglossum and Oncidium include some of the best-known cultivated orchids.
Sarcanthinae, with 42 genera in the tropics. Vanda (Asia) and Angraecum (Africa and Madagascar) are known in cultivation. The flower of Angraecum sesquipedale has a spur 18 in. in length.
The order is well represented in Britain by 18 genera, which include several species of Orchis:—Gymnadenia (fragrant orchis), Habenaria (butterfly and frog orchis), Aceras (man orchis), Herminium (musk orchis), Ophrys (bee, spider and fly orchis), Epipactis (Helleborine), Cephalanthera, Neottia (bird’s-nest orchis), one of the few saprophytic genera, which have no green leaves, but derive their nourishment from decaying organic matter in the soil, Listera (Tway blade), Spiranthes (lady’s tresses), Malaxis (bog-orchis), Liparis (fen-orchis), Corallorhiza (coral root), also a saprophyte, and Cypripedium (lady’s slipper), represented by a single species now very rare in limestone districts in the north of England.
ORCHOMENUS (local form on coins and inscriptions, Erchomenos), the name borne by two cities of ancient Greece.
1. A Boeotian city, situated in an angle between the Cephissus and its tributary the Melas, on a long narrow hill which projects south from Mount Acontium. Its position is exceedingly strong, being defended on every side by precipice or marsh or river, and it was admirably situated to be the stronghold of an early kingdom. The acropolis is at the north end of the hill, on a peak which is overhung by Acontium, but at a distance sufficient to be safe from an enemy with the weapons of early warfare posted on the mountain. At the foot of the acropolis are the springs of the Melas.
In prehistoric times Orchomenus, as is proved alike by archaeological finds and by an extensive cycle of legends, was one of the most prosperous towns of Greece. It was at once a continental and a maritime power. On the mainland it controlled the greater part of Boeotia and drew its riches from the fertile lowlands of Lake Copais, upon the drainage of which the early kings of Orchomenus bestowed great care. Its maritime connexions have not been as yet determined, but it is clear that its original inhabitants, the Minyae, were a seafaring nation, and in historical times Orchomenus remained a member of the Calaurian League of naval states. At the end of the second millennium the Minyae were more or less supplanted by the incoming stock of Boeotians. Henceforth Orchomenus no longer figures as a great commercial state, and its political supremacy in Boeotia passed now, if not previously, to the people of Thebes. Nevertheless, owing perhaps to its strong military position, it long continued to exercise some sort of overlordship over other towns of northern Boeotia, and maintained an independent attitude within the Boeotian League. In 447 it served as the headquarters of the oligarchic exiles who freed Boeotia from Athenian control. In the 4th century Orchomenus was actuated throughout by an anti-Theban policy, which may have been nothing more than a recrudescence of old-time rivalry, but seems chiefly inspired by aversion to the newly established democracy at Thebes. In the Corinthian War the city supported Lysander and Agesilaus in their attacks upon Thebes, and when war was renewed between the Thebans and Spartans in 379. Orchomenus again sided with the latter. After the battle of Leuctra it was left at the mercy of the Thebans, who first, on Epaminondas’s advice, readmitted it into the Boeotian League, but in 368 destroyed the town and exterminated or enslaved its people. By 353 Orchomenus had been rebuilt, probably by the Phocians, who used it as a bulwark against Thebes. After the subjection of the Phocians in 346 it was again razed by the Thebans, but was restored by Philip of Macedon as a check upon the latter (338). Orchomenus springs into prominence once again in 85 B.C., when it provided the battle-field on which
