
Anggrek Simpodial dan Anggrek Monopodial
Aerides Crassifolia, Ascocentrum Curvifolium, Bulbophyllum, Bulbophyllum-Dearei, Bulbophyllum-Obii, Bulbophyllum-Picturatum, Cirrhopetalum, Cirrhopetalum-Louis-Sander, Cirrhopetalum-Umbelatum, Dendrobium Cariniferum, Dendrobium Draconis, Demdrobium Harveyanumto name a few. There are quite distinct differences between wild orchids and cultivated orchids nowadays, particularly in the sizes, shapes and colours. For example, the Wild Vanda Coerulea has a paler shade, the tesselation is not as clear and as vivid, and the petals are significantly more twisted (although retaining their natural beauty) than the Vanda Coerulea sold in the market. Breeders have improved and altered those features by bringing some specimens from the wild to cultivate, then using the process of either self-pollination or cross-pollination to develop hybrids.
The seeds from the pods of these new "breeds" are then brought to the laboratory for further embryo culture, cultivation and selection to obtain the features desired. Generally the features sought by these processes are brighter colours, more obvious tesselation, and less twisted petals so that a circular form is achieved. Other than self-pollinating and cross-pollinating, the orchids are sometimes pollinated from orchids of different species and families in order to obtain other special features such as, in the case of Vanda SP. for example, being able to produce flowers more than once a year. Another distinct quality of the wild orchid is its vigour and resistance to diseases and insects, plus its ability to withstand adverse environmental factors, and the fact that it can produce a great quantity of seeds at one time. In some cases, there is still a need to re-pollinate the already cultivated and hybridised orchids from wild orchids once more in order to regain some of the missing features in response to the market trends of the moment. So, it can be clearly seen that wild orchids are the source of essential factors and play an important role in the continuing development and maintenance of healthy hybrids. Thus they should always be highly regarded and preserved with utmost care. As mentioned earlier, most wild orchids flower only once a year and the form of their blooms are not those most popular on the market, so not too many people raise them except the enthusiasts of wild orchids who truly love their natural looks, who may also raise them for experimental and hybridization purposes. We don't know how many of our Thai orchids have already become extinct, both from natural causes such as many fungal diseases, insects or forest fires, and from human negligence. Not realising the dangers of extinction, villagers and dealers are cooperating in collecting wild orchids from the forests in increasing number in order to supply the annually rising international demand for Thai wild orchids. It is to be hoped that the problem of wild orchid conservation, along with the conditions and problems faced by the existing forests, will be looked into and dealt with soon, before it becomes too late. Although leaving the orchids in their own natural environment could be the best way to preserve them, a small number of orchids should perhaps be brought out from the forest for research or for conservation purposes. Our hope is that some of the charms of these Thai wild orchids may have already touched your heart and fascinated you with their forms and colours.Nature has given us these splendid plants and hopefully their beauty will create in all of us a consciousness of and a love for nature, along with the Thai forests where they come from.













