A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Aerial root - Any root produced above the growing medium.
AM- Award of Merit 80–89.5 points
Anther- The part of the stamen containing the pollen; the end of the column.
AOS- American Orchid Society (www.AOS.org)
B
Backbulb - An old pseudobulb behind the part of a sympodial orchid that is actively growing. Although there may be no leaves the presence of undamaged "eyes" is a sign that growth is possible.
Bifoliate - Having two leaves.
BS - Blooming Sized Plant – one that has either already bloomed, or is the correct age to bloom within the year on it’s next flowering cycle.
C
Cane- An elongated psuedobulb, usually used when describing Dendrobiums.
Crock - Small pieces of broken earthenware or flower pots, placed in the bottom of a pot when repotting to aid in drainage.
Cultivar- An individual plant and its vegetative propagations in cultivation; a horticultural variety.
E
Epiphyte, epiphytic - A plant which naturally grows upon another plant but does not derive any nourishment from it. Many of the orchids in cultivation are epiphytic.
Eye - The bud of a sympodial orchid that will eventually develop into a new lead.
F
Foliar spray - Many minor nutrients and trace elements beneficial to growth are best absorbed through the stomata of an orchids leaves when mixed with water and sprayed on the plant.
FCC- First Class Certificate 89.6 or more points
G
Genus - (pl. genera) A natural grouping of closely related species.
H
HCC- Highly Commended Certificate 75–79.5 points
Habitat - The type of place in which a plant normally grows.
Hybrid - The offspring of a cross between species or hybrids.
I
Inflorescence - The flowering portion of a plant.
Intergeneric hybrid - A hybrid between members of two or more genera.
K
Keiki - A Hawaiian word referring to a baby plant produced asexually by an orchid plant, usually used when referring to Dendrobiums or Vandaceous orchids.
L
Lead - An immature vegetative growth on a sympodial orchid that will develop into flower-producing structure.
Lip - A modified petal of the orchid flower specialized to aid in pollination and different than the other petals.
Lithophyte- An orchid that grows on rocks
M
Medium - The material in which an orchid is container-grown, it may be organic such as fir bark or inorganic such as lava rock.
Mericlone- A plant derived from tissue culture that is identical to its parent.
Momopodial- Orchids which grow upward from a single stem producing leaves and flowers along that stem.
N
NBS - Near Blooming Sized – A plant that is almost the correct size or age to bloom. Usually will bloom within 12 to 18 months.
Node- A joint on a stem or pseudobulb from which a leaf or growth originates.
P
Panicle - An inflorescence with a main stem and branches, the flowers on the lower branches open earlier than the upper ones.
Photosynthesis - The process a plant uses to produce carbohydrates and sugar from water and carbon dioxide in the air using chlorophyl-containing cells exposed to light.
Pseudobulb- A thickened portion of the stem of many orchids functioning as a water and food storage device.
R
Raceme- An unbranched inflorescence of stalked flowers.
Rhizome - A root-bearing stem of sympodial orchids that progressively sends up leafy shoots.
RHS- Royal Horticulture Society
S
Scape - An unbranched inflorescence with one flower.
Sheath - A modified leaf that encloses an emerging inflorescence or leaf.
Species - A kind of plant that is distinct from other plants.
Spike - An unbranched inflorescence of unstalked flowers.
Stolon - A branch that grows horizontally above the medium and produces roots and shoots at the nodes.
Stomata - The breathing pores on the surface of a plant's leaves
Sympodial - Orchids which grow laterally and produce leafy growths along a rhizome
T
Terrestrial - Growing on the ground and supported by soil.
U
Unifoliate - Having one leaf.
V
Velamen - The thick sponge-like covering of the roots of epiphytic orchids which helps prevent water loss and aids in absorption.
Virus - A type of infectious agent, much smaller than common microorganisms, several forms of which affect certain kinds of orchids.
W
WOC - World Orchid Conference