They might be the show-ponies of the plant world but there's more to an orchid than just a pretty face.
It's the unusual nature of orchids that makes them so attractive, says President of the NSW Orchid Society, Geoff Fulcher.
"There is a huge variety of them, there is something like 3,000 species of orchids (in the world)," he says.
While orchids are usually enjoyed for their flowers, they have a number of other uses.
The most common commercial use for orchids is vanilla – yes, the prized and expensive vanilla pod grows on an orchid.
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