If the entire family of orchids is taken into account, their ecological distribution is broad. Many species in the family are present in both the northern and southern temperate zones, despite the fact that the family is typically tropical. It has been claimed that at least four species are found north of the Arctic Circle. There are several species found in bogs, prairies, grasslands, and hardwood woods in the North Temperate Zone.
Numerous varieties of Spiranthes, Habenaria, and other orchids can be discovered in roadside ditches, frequently in damp, marshy environments. Platanthera ciliaris is nearly a weed in several parts of the United States. Zeuxine strateumatica, an Asian species that was introduced to southern Florida, has spread widely and could be regarded as a weed.
From sea level to at least 4,600 meters, orchids grow well.
In tropical climates, the highest concentration of orchid species can be found in cloud-forest associations, typically on mountain slopes where clouds pass over the mountains during the day. These forests are literally covered in lichens and mosses, and the ground's incline allows sunlight to reach the ground through the foliage. Ferns, ferns, and many other epiphytic plants make this an ideal home for epiphytic orchids as well as members of the Gesneriaceae and Araceae families.
Rain forests on typically level terrain are not good places for orchids, despite what many people think. There are only about 125 species of orchids known to exist in Iquitos, Peru, along the Amazon River, many of which are extremely uncommon. When orchids do grow in rain forests, they usually do so in at
in the crowns of big trees; frequently, one tree has vast populations of a single species, whereas an adjacent tree may only contain one or two additional species. Many orchid species can be found in the tropical-deciduous seasonal hardwood forests of the tropics, which experience notable wet and dry intervals. However, these forests are also often the best for farming, therefore they do not survive long after cultivation.
Orchids exhibit a broad spectrum of ecological tolerance. Some orchid species, in addition to those found above the Arctic Circle, are able to survive in arid environments. For instance, a number of orchid species that are epiphytic on cactus can be found in the arid regions of northern Peru. In western Ecuador's Santa Elena Peninsula, there are two species.
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