Epidendrums

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A genus of tropical epiphytic orchids characterized by showy flowers and a sympodial growth habit often found on trees ; the term also refers to any member of this group known for their diverse and vibrant blossoms
2. Refers to a group of orchid plants that grow on other plants without harming them, noted for their attractive and varied flowers used in horticulture ; also signifies these orchids collectively recognized for their distinctive flowering patterns
3. Denotes a category of air plants within the orchid family that typically flourish on tree trunks or branches and are appreciated for their ornamental flowers ; the name applies broadly to these epiphytic orchids cultivated for their aesthetic appeal

Etymology: "Epidendrum" is the name of a genus of orchids, and the plural "epidendrums" is simply the ordinary English plural of that genus name. The genus name is built from Greek elements: "epi-", meaning "upon" or "on", and "dendron", meaning "tree". The sense is literal: these orchids grow on the trunks and branches of trees rather than in soil, a habit botanists call epiphytic. The name was coined in the scientific Latin used to classify plants, so it belongs to the botanical naming of the 18th and 19th centuries rather than to ancient Greek usage, even though its parts come from Greek. Ancient Greek speakers had the word "dendron" and the prefix "epi-" but no word for an orchid growing on a tree in this sense.

Synonyms: orchids