Orchids  

Orchids are very common in Ecuador and some 4000 species are already classified although many more await official recognition. You find them as epiphytes on trees, as lithophytes on rocks or rooted in the soil in the more traditional terrestrial fashion. Orchids grow in all ecosystems and some species range up to 4000m but the majority are found in the humid cloudforests and rainforests of the country. Some are so plentiful as to be considered weeds growing in disturbed areas whereas many you will never face as they grow high up in the crowns of tall tropical trees. But in any case if you love orchids you are in the right country to be able to see and admire them. 

Orchids started out as terrestrial plants and half of all species stayed in this proven mode of making a living. Other orchids, especially the tropical ones, became epiphytes or air plants, growing on other plants. As trees grew taller and taller to reach the precious sunrays so other plants moved up on them for the same reasons. Epiphytes also include ferns, lichen, mosses, bromeliads and other flowering plants. Orchids underwent evolutionary changes to be able to survive the move from soil- to airborne plants. They developed specialized roots which can take moisture directly from the air. Food and water was stored in fleshy leaves or pseudobulbs to survive leaner times. Some other orchids embarked on a different evolutionary path losing the ability to photosynthesize. They form a union with mycorrhizals parasitizing other soil fungi. During germination and seedling growth all orchids go through this process.

One of the most interesting feature of orchids is their intricate interactions with pollinators, mainly insects. Many orchids and animals co-evolved together for mutual benefits. Orchids modified their flowers to attract pollinators. The beautiful shapes, colors and smells of some orchids were not invented to people's benefits but for selfish purposes. Nice smelling orchids attract for instance bees which are main pollinators of orchids (and flowers in general). Whereas foul smelling ones bow to the wishes of flies. White orchids often bloom at night and attract moths, bats and other nocturnal animals. The tubular structures of Elleanthus species offer pollen to hummingbirds. Some developed further special features like closing themselves so pollinators have to exit at the back and thus get in touch more positively with the pollens. Others adapted themselves to only one kind of animal and depend on them alone for propagation.

Orchids are adored by flower lovers and many hybrids were created over the years and a booming orchid trade is at hand. South American orchids common in the trade are cattleyas, laelias, encyclia, epidendrums, oncidiums and phragmipediums. One orchid which is used commercially for a different purpose is the vanilla. It originated from Mexico but  is now grown in many other tropical countries for producing that nice vanilla flavor. The essence is produced in the seed pods of those climbing orchids. Orchids are very successful and are with the Asteracea family the largest flower family in the world. But individual orchid species are prone to extinction through habitat destruction. As many species are range restricted, often being endemic to a small area a complete deforestation will also destroy them.