What Is The Economic Significance Of Orchids?

Orchids are a significant part of the ecosystem, with their economic and medicinal value being a key indicator of climate change. They are used in folk medicine, food supplements, and as glue substitutes. The only commercially important product derived from orchids is vanilla. Orchids are valued for their ecological aspects, medicinal value, food value, economic value, ornamental value, and cultural value.

The economic importance of orchids lies mainly in their ornamental and therapeutic value. Many orchid species are used in ethnic food, fragrance and flavor industry, dry flowers, jewelry, and other minor uses. Orchid conservation is crucial to ensure the survival of these threatened plants.

Orchids have been cultivated for their commercial value, with many hybridized and variegated. Their by-products are used in handicrafts, traditional healthcare, and the perfumery industry. Orchids are one of the highly commercial crops in the floriculture sector, exploited due to their high ornamental and economic value.

Orchids have long been commercialized as medicinal products and food, with breeding and mass production of commercially valuable orchids having long-lasting benefits. They also have nutritive and diarrheal properties, and their roots are traditionally used by local and indigenous people for curing various ailments.

In conclusion, orchids hold significant economic and ecological importance due to their ornamental and therapeutic value. They are a vital component of the ecosystem and have been used in various industries, including food, fragrance, and perfumery.

How are orchids important to the ecosystem?

Orchids rely on air, rain, and soil moisture for their sustenance, with some self-pollinating and others relying on specific insects or birds. They compensate for their lack of a water-retentive root system by working with mycorrhizae fungi during their life cycle. These fungi grow partly inside orchid roots, helping the plant absorb water and minerals. The orchid “repays” the fungi by producing nutrients during photosynthesis, helping them survive.

This symbiotic relationship between two organisms is called a symbiotic relationship. Orchids are highly adaptable, growing in almost all climates except for frigid and arid extremes. They are both pantropical and endemic, with most species growing in tropical forests, semi-desert regions, near the seashore, and tundra. Neotropical orchid species are found in southern Central America, northwest South America, and Andes Mountains countries.

Why are orchids so prized?

The orchid, introduced into European cultivation in the 18th and 19th centuries, was initially a risky and expensive plant due to the phenomenon of “orchid fever.” However, it has since become the world’s most popular flowering potted plant, with annual global sales reaching billions.

What is the economic importance of orchids?

The genus Orchid is renowned for its considerable ornamental and medicinal value, and plays an integral role in the horticultural and herbal markets at both the national and international levels.

Why are orchids useful?

Orchids are natural air purifiers that can remove harmful substances from indoor spaces. Dendrobium orchids, in particular, can improve indoor air quality by removing airborne xylene and chemical solvents from everyday items like cleaning agents and painting supplies. Orchids also improve sleep quality by producing beneficial oxygen, similar to bromeliads and succulents, even when lights are off at night.

This oxygen flow, which is believed to have a positive and relaxing effect on humans, reduces the risk of anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia. Having an ornamental orchid plant in your bedroom can help calm nerves during bedtime.

Are orchids valuable?

Orchids are a rare and valuable commodity due to their rarity and difficulty to cultivate. Many of the most beautiful and unique varieties are extremely rare, taking years to grow and requiring special conditions. These rare and beautiful flowers are prized possessions for collectors, reflecting the time, effort, and resources spent in their creation and cultivation. The prices of these orchids reflect the unique treasures they are, making them a valuable investment.

What is the main use of orchids?

Orchids have been used for centuries as a medicine to treat various diseases and ailments, including tuberculosis, paralysis, stomach disorders, chest pain, arthritis, syphilis, jaundice, cholera, acidity, eczema, tumor, piles, boils, inflammations, menstrual disorders, spermatorrhea, leucoderma, and diahorrhea. ScienceDirect uses cookies and has copyright © 2024 Elsevier B. V., its licensors, and contributors. All rights reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

Why are orchids good for the environment?

Orchids, known for their economic value as cut flowers and potted plants, have seen a significant increase in international trade in the last decade. However, their ecological role in the ecosystem has been often overlooked. Orchids are highly advanced plants that develop various ways to attract pollinators, indicating the health of the ecosystem. They rely on mycorrhiza for germination and Euglossine bees for propagation, which are essential for their reproduction. Orchids are slow-growing and are the last to perish in an ecosystem.

Culturally, orchids have been part of various religious and social events, such as the adornment of flowers during spring festivals in Assam, personal adornment with Papilionanthe teres, and Buddhist temple decoration with Dendrobium hookerianum flowers. Many orchids are also known for their medicinal value.

The biggest threat to orchid populations today is anthropogenic pressures, which can lead to the loss of these vital plants and their ability to reproduce in an ecosystem. Understanding the complex interactions between orchids and other biotas is crucial for preserving their unique and valuable ecosystems.

How can orchids help humans?

Moth orchids, as they breathe, remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air, providing fresher air free of xylene, a common pollutant in paint, air fresheners, ink, and adhesives. They also help improve appearance by releasing moisture into the air as part of their natural breathing process, reducing dry skin and chapped lips in winter. This extra moisture can prevent coughs, colds, and sore throats.

Moth orchids also make people happier by reducing stress and anxiety levels, leading to increased mood, self-esteem, and happiness. Research has found a link between having plants around and overall well-being.

Are orchids good for the environment?

Orchids serve as valuable bioindicators of ecosystem health, indicating the quality of an environment and its changes over time. This is achieved by measuring natural biological processes, animals, plants, or communities of organisms.