Orchids are beautiful and exotic perennial herbs grown in both hemispheres, usually in tropical and subtropical forests. The Orchidaceae family includes over 10,000 species and hybrids that display lustrous, translucent petals in rich, variegated colors and produce a multitude of fragrances, including vanilla.

This complex botanical ranges in size from tiny to gigantic, with species growing as tall as 25 feet (viz. Grammatophyllum speciosum). Even with such diversity, the flower on every orchid expresses bilateral symmetry, containing three petals and three petal-like, outlying sepals. Generally, there is a distinct, bottommost petal called the labellum that is larger and manifests a novel shape and color. This 'lip' contains specialized cells that secrete nectar to attract insects during reproductive pollination. Botanists theorize that many of the physical characteristics peculiar to specific orchid species have selectively evolved to attract specific pollinating insects or animals, and even include structures that so resemble female insects that the male insects try to mate with them. At the center of the flower is a structure formed by the fusion of stamens and pistil called the column.

Generally, pollination is accomplished by insects or birds, however a few species are wind-pollenating or self-pollinating. Horticulturists have discovered that because the orchid seed contains very few nutrients, the embryo depends upon fungi for germination and food. In spite of this limitation, orchids are highly adaptable to most terrestrial ecosystems, and different types of ochids will grow on rocks (lithophytes), on the ground (terrestrials), or on trees (epiphytes). The epiphyte orchid has an aerial root, and is predominately found in tropical habitats. Epiphytes grow nonparasitically on trees; their roots only attach to trees and do not derive any nourishment from them. The orchid aerial root has a multi-layered, sponge-like covering called a velamen that helps to provide structure, prevent water loss, and is adapted to absorb water from the surrounding air. The stem of the orchid swells at its base, forming a pseudobulb, which is used to store food.

Commercially, many orchid hybrids have been developed as ornamental flowers, and several species are cultivated in Madagascar, Mexico, and Indonesia for use in vanilla flavoring.