Botany & Plants
Test your knowledge of Orchids with a free trivia word search from thewordfind.com. Read each clue, work out the answer, then find it hidden in the letter grid — every puzzle is freshly generated, so no two plays are ever quite the same. Don't know an answer? Tap the hint button in-game to reveal the first letter, or just scan the grid — every answer is hiding in there somewhere. Between the clues and the full answer key below, this topic doubles as a quick study guide — good for a trivia night, a classroom quiz, or just picking up something new about Orchids along the way.
Play This Puzzle →A few sample clues
What type of climate is home to the highest concentration and diversity of orchid species?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The modified bottom petal of an orchid that serves as a landing pad for pollinators is called the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
Swollen stem bases that orchids use to store water and nutrients during dry spells are called _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
Orchids that grow directly on rocks and stones rather than trees or soil are called _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
Which island in the Indian Ocean is world-famous for extensive vanilla orchid plantations?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
All 97 questions in this topic, with answers — use it to study, or just browse. Every actual play of the puzzle only pulls a random handful of these into one game, so knowing them all here won't spoil which ones show up or where they're hidden in the grid. Play it here.
What specialized structure in orchid flowers is formed by the fusion of male stamens and female pistils?
COLUMNThe protective sterile stamen on lady's slipper orchids is called a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
STAMINODEThe native habitat of the famous blue Vanda orchid is the Himalayan foothill region of _ _ _ _ _ .
INDIAWhich sphinx moth was discovered decades after Darwin predicted it pollinates the star orchid?
XANTHOPANBecause vanilla flowers open for less than one day commercial crops must be pollinated by _ _ _ _ .
HANDWhat physical growth habit describes orchids that grow horizontally along a creeping rhizome?
SYMPODIALWhat is the primary substance that orchids store inside their fleshy pseudobulbs?
WATERWhich organ in an orchid flower produces the pollen packets?
ANTHERWhich bright orange or red orchid genus is closely related to Cattleya?
SOPHRONITISIn botanical terms the fruit produced by an orchid is classified as a seed _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
CAPSULEWhat microscopic organisms form a symbiotic relationship to nourish germinating orchid seeds?
FUNGIWhich popular orchid genus has long arching flower sprays often called boat orchids?
CYMBIDIUMWhich orchid genus features a pouch-shaped lip and is known as the slipper orchid?
PAPHIOPEDILUMWhat organ on a climbing Vanilla orchid anchors the vine to host trees?
ROOTWhich spider orchid genus is named for its extremely long and thin spidery petals?
BRASSIAWhat form of symmetry where each half mirrors the other is featured in orchid blossoms?
BILATERALWhat continent is the only one in the world that has no native orchid species?
ANTARCTICAWhat part of the vanilla orchid plant is harvested and cured to yield vanilla extract?
PODAn old leafless pseudobulb that remains on an orchid plant as a nutrient reserve is a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
BACKBULBHow many true petals does a standard symmetrical orchid bloom possess?
THREEWhat common indoor potting substrate made from coconut husks is widely used for orchids?
COIRThe swan orchid genus known for producing distinct male and female flowers on one plant is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
CYCNOCHESWhich jewel orchid genus is grown primarily for its shimmering patterned foliage rather than flowers?
LUDISIAHow many protective outer sepals does a typical orchid blossom have?
THREENaturalist Charles _ _ _ _ _ _ predicted the existence of a longtongued moth that pollinates the star orchid.
DARWINA miniature clone plantlet growing off the cane of a Dendrobium orchid is called a _ _ _ _ _ .
KEIKIThe scent of some orchid species attracts pollinators by mimicking animal pheromones or _ _ _ _ .
FOODThe common name for Phalaenopsis orchids derives from their resemblance to flying _ _ _ _ _ .
MOTHSWhich South American slipper orchid genus is known for long cascading ribbon-like petals?
PHRAGMIPEDIUMThe famous corsage orchid genus with large brightly colored flowers is named _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
CATTLEYAThe 180-degree twisting process that turns an orchid flower upside down as it blooms is called _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
RESUPINATIONThe scientific family name for all orchids is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
ORCHIDACEAEWhich orchid genus has a flower lip modified into a bucket that traps visiting bees?
CORYANTHESThe orchid genus Epidendrum includes over one thousand species native to the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
AMERICASThe tulip orchid genus famous for large fragrant waxy flowers is named _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
ANGULOAThe popular genus of orchids with cane-like pseudobulbs native to Asia and Australia is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
DENDROBIUMThe white-flowered orchid genus commonly known as moth orchid is named _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
PHALAENOPSISThe golden chain orchid genus featuring hanging sprays of tiny yellow flowers is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
DENDROCHILUMThe orchid species Vanilla planifolia is originally native to central and South _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
AMERICAWhat gas do orchid pseudobulbs store overnight to conserve water during hot daylight hours?
CARBONDIOXIDEWhich white-flowered native North American orchid genus is commonly called lady's tresses?
SPIRANTHESWhat type of organism must orchid seeds partner with in order to germinate in nature?
FUNGUSSmall hard shell-like insects that attach to orchid leaves and stems are called _ _ _ _ _ .
SCALEWhich North American bog orchid is commonly known as the grass pink orchid?
CALOPOGONWhat specialized nocturnal metabolic pathway, used by many succulent orchids to conserve water, involves opening stomata at night instead of during the day?
CAMThe lady's slipper orchid genus native to North American woodlands is named _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
CYPRIPEDIUMWhich colorful terrestrial orchid genus is commonly known as the rainbow orchid?
THELYMITRAWhat microscopic reproductive structures are released by the millions from a single orchid pod?
SEEDSWhat leaf pigment turns orchid leaves dark green when the plant receives too little light?
CHLOROPHYLLThe popular epiphytic orchid genus known for fans of strap-like leaves and blue flowers is _ _ _ _ _ .
VANDABecause orchid seeds lack a food reserve called _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ they are microscopic like dust.
ENDOSPERMWhat element in orchid fertilizer promotes strong root development and flower blooming?
PHOSPHORUSThe flower lip of the bucket orchid contains a slick fluid-filled bucket that holds _ _ _ _ _ _ .
LIQUIDWhich common sap-sucking pest forms white cottony clusters in orchid leaf axils?
MEALYBUGWhat color is the foliage of the popular jewel orchid Ludisia discolor?
MAROONWhich major world ocean surrounds the tropical island of Madagascar where vanilla orchids thrive?
INDIANWhich Central American ancient civilization combined vanilla orchid pods with cacao to make chocolate drinks?
AZTECSOrchid pollen is bundled into compact waxy masses known as _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
POLLINIAWhich orchid genus has explosive flowers that launch pollinia onto visiting insects?
CATASETUMWhich orchid genus produces dark seed pods used worldwide for flavoring?
VANILLAWhat primary insect pollinates the Vanilla orchid in its native wild habitat?
BEEThe orchid flower structure called a spur often holds a sweet reward called _ _ _ _ _ _ .
NECTARThe bamboo orchid genus native to tropical Asia with reed-like stems is named _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
ARUNDINABecause soil smothers epiphytic roots orchids are usually potted in coarse tree _ _ _ _ .
BARKExcessive water retention in potting media around orchid roots frequently leads to root _ _ _ .
ROTWhat physical growth habit describes orchids that grow upward along a single vertical stem like Vanda?
MONOPODIALWhat color are the aerial root tips of a actively growing epiphytic orchid?
GREENWhich orchid genus produces flowers that deceive male insects by mimicking female bees?
OPHRYSOrchids that grow rooted normally in ground soil are classified as _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
TERRESTRIALThe modified lip of an orchid flower is often simply referred to as the _ _ _ .
LIPWhich species of bee is famous for naturally pollinating the vanilla blossom in Mexico?
MELIPONAWhich country produces the largest share of the world's natural vanilla orchid crop?
MADAGASCARWhat color is the velamen coating on mature dormant aerial roots of orchids?
SILVERWhat porous volcanic rock is frequently mixed into orchid potting media for drainage?
PERLITEThe outer spongy tissue layer on aerial roots of epiphytic orchids that absorbs water is the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
VELAMENThe fragrant boat orchid genus Cymbidium originates primarily from the continent of _ _ _ _ .
ASIAThe orchid genus Brassavola is famous for releasing a strong sweet fragrance at _ _ _ _ _ .
NIGHTThe star orchid Angraecum sesquipedale famously has a nectar spur over ten inches _ _ _ _ .
LONGWhich fragrant orchid genus is commonly known as the pansy orchid?
MILTONIAThe star-shaped comet orchid genus native to Madagascar and Africa is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
ANGRAECUMWhat macronutrient in fertilizer encourages rapid green leaf and shoot growth on orchids?
NITROGENThe genus of orchids known for bizarre alien-like flowers and triggers is named _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
BULBOPHYLLUMWhich miniature epiphytic orchid genus features small fan-shaped overlapping leaves?
OBERONIAWhat female floral organ receives pollen during fertilization in orchids?
STIGMAThe dragon's mouth orchid genus native to North American bogs is named _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
ARETHUSAThe Australian underground orchid genus that lives completely subterranean is named _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
RHIZANTHELLAWhich bright yellow orchid genus is popular in floristry and known as the dancing-lady orchid?
ONCIDIUMThe Australian hammer orchid genus that tricks wasps with an elbowed, hinged lip is _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
DRAKAEAThe giant orchid species Grammatophyllum speciosum can weigh well over a thousand _ _ _ _ _ _ .
POUNDSOrchids that grow attached to trees without parasitizing them are classified as _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
EPIPHYTESThe Victorian obsession with collecting exotic orchid species was called _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
ORCHIDMANIAWhat natural color are the flowers of the classic Vanilla planifolia vine?
CREAM