The beauty of Thai orchids has aroused worldwide visitors to Thailand the interest in Thai orchids. The bloom of violet orchids or the mundane purple orchids pinned on the shirts or coat of the passengers to Thailand by the Thai Airlines service personnel startles the introduction of the beauty and charm of Thai orchids to the visitors to the nearly boundless variety of Thai orchids.
Thailand is home to over a thousand different species of orchids. They are found growing in Thailand from sea level up to one thousand meters elevation in their unaccountable home climate. Some grow in sunless, humid rain forests and others on the arid northeastern plateau, on the ground, epiphytically attached to trees, or growing out of crevices in mountain rocks.
Orchids in Thailand are found in tremendous forms, colors and scents which are uniquely characteristics. There are six major groups of orchids by their genus. The Epidendrum group contains what are generally considered to be wild orchids. They are mostly the epiphytically attached to trees. It is the largest orchid genus, containing over 1,000 species. The second largest genus is the Denobrium group, which grows all the way from the Himalayas, through Southeast Asia and down to Australia. They are the easiest to care for, and are popular houseplants. The long-lasting sprays of flowers bloom for up to three months, and up to twice a year. The genus contains 900 species. Although orchid fanciers sneer at them, the ordinary viewer enjoys the flashy Cattleya group, a genus of 113 species of orchids from Costa Rica to tropical South America. The catteleya orchid is also called “the corsage orchid” followed the style of old days fashionable ladies. They are perfect as cut flowers because they are long-lasting and come in an array of colors. They are the group among the most popular and most extravagantly beautiful orchids known. Any orchid of the genus Cattleya is characterized by a three-lobed lip enclosing the column. Most of the varieties in this group are hybrids and colors can range from the brightly coloured violet and yellow variety to the subtly tinted cream-coloured variety named for H.M. Queen Sirikit. Another popular group is the Cymbidium Group, or the “boat orchids”, of which there are about 40 species. The word Cymbidium comes from Greek “kymbe” meaning “a boat”, referring to hollowness in the lip of the flower. Cymbidium is native of tropical and subtropical Asia covering North-India, China, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Borneo islands and North-Australia. They are among the most popular winter and spring blooming orchids. Prized not only for the beauty of the multiple blooms found on one stem, they are a long-lasting cut flower valued as an export commodity. Finally there is the Brassavola genus. Flowers in this genus are very fragrant, and most are white with heavily fringed lips on the edge of the blossom. These orchids are some of the easiest orchids to cultivate.
