蘭花的種類
About Orchids
地生蘭 Terrestrial orchids
地生蘭與一般的植物一樣根部埋藏於泥土裏，多生長於樹林下、略有日光照射的地方，而不是緊貼石頭或樹幹上。大部分的地生蘭都屬於淺根植物，根部多只生長於表土，根系並不會像樹木一般深入地向地下延伸生長；根部多為肉質，而莖葉則長出地面。部分地生蘭於秋冬時莖葉會脫落，只依靠塊莖維持過冬，這些物種被稱為落葉性地生蘭。部分物種的莖更會縮短而且膨大形成假鱗莖。香港可見到竹葉蘭、紫紋兜蘭、苞舌蘭和鵝毛玉鳳花等的地生蘭。
Like most plants, terrestrial orchids have their roots buried in the soil, and grow under the canopy shade of woodlands, rather than clinging on to the surfaces of rocks or tree barks. Many terrestrial orchids have shallow roots with their stems and leaves growing out of the ground. Roots are fleshy and usually grow in the topsoil only. Some of the terrestrial orchids are deciduous with, their stems and leaves fallen in autumn and winter, and rely on stem tubers to go through the winter. Some varieties have shorter stems and swell to form pseudobulbs. In Hong Kong, you may find many terrestrial orchids, such as Bamboo Orchid, Hong Kong Lady's Slipper Orchid, Buttercup Orchid, Toothed Habenaria.
附生蘭 Epiphytic orchids
附生蘭是指會攀附於其他物品上生長的蘭花，例如可生長於岩石上或者攀附於樹上。它們的根只會依附在石或樹的表面而不會穿透到其中，亦有寬闊的葉片，以便可以吸收到更多的陽光。它們一般具有肥厚的氣生根和較大的假鱗莖，以便吸收和儲存水份。在香港比較常見的附生蘭有廣東隔距蘭、石仙桃和流蘇貝母蘭等。
Epiphytic orchids grow with their roots attached on rocks or clinging on to tree barks. Their roots are only attached on the surface but not penetrating rocks or tree barks. In general, they have thick aerial roots with large pseudobulbs for absorbing atmospheric moisture and water storage. Many of them also have broad leaves to capture more sunlight. The common epiphytic orchids in Hong Kong includes Bee Orchid, Chinese Pholidota and Brown Rock-orchid.
腐生蘭 Saprophytic orchids
腐生並非指蘭花已經腐爛，而是由於腐生蘭沒有葉綠素，無法進行光合作用，會與菌類形成共生關係，透過消化及分解土壤中腐植質以獲取養分，所以它們多會生長在林底水分充足與腐植質豐富的泥土中。有別於其他蘭花，腐生蘭的根莖都藏在泥土中，花莖只會在花季時長出。香港擁有七種腐生蘭，包括無葉蘭，無葉美冠蘭，暹邏錨柱蘭，北插天天麻，虎舌蘭，金唇盂蘭及新發表的天麻Gastrodia clausa。
Unlike other orchids, saprophytic orchids have no chlorophyll and cannot carry out photosynthesis. Instead, they have symbiotic relationships with a variety of fungi, called ‘Orchid mycorrhizae’, to digest and decompose humus in the soil for obtaining nutrients. Therefore, they usually grow in moist areas with rich humus. Saprophytic orchids have their stems growing underground and their flower stalks only come out during the flowering season. There are seven saprophytic orchid species in Hong Kong, including Leafless Yellow Orchid, Hong Kong Eulophia, Thai Didymoplexiella, Peichatien Gastrodia, Ghost Orchid, Blackening Lecanorchis, and the newly published Gastrodia clausa.