Orchids are a diverse and cosmopolitan family of monocot flowering plants belonging to the order Asparagales and family Orchidaceae. Considered as one of the largest families of flowering plants, there are at present nearly 22,000 identified orchid species. The name is derived from the Greek word "órkhis" (which literally means "testicle") and was introduced in 1845 by John Lindley in "School Botany."
The orchid family includes Vanilla, Orchis, and several plants popular as home and park ornaments such as Phalaenopsis and Cattleya. Though occurring in almost every habitat throughout the world, most orchids can be found in the tropics mainly in Asia, South America, and Central America. There are also species growing in locations above the Arctic Circle, in southern Patagonia, and even on Macquarie Island, close to Antarctica.
Easily distinguishable from other plants, a vast majority of orchid species share very conspicuous similar characteristics. They are perennial herbs without a permanent woody structure, bilaterally symmetric, and have very small seeds, fused stamens and carpels, and a labellum that is always highly modified.