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Female Orchid Classification System

The Splendor of Asymmetry

Up to this point, all of the orchid features defined have demonstrated mostly symmetrical sheath, hood and labial features. Alas, the wonderful thing about orchids which provides a high degree of uniqueness is the variety of asymmetries. For clarity, symmetry is defined as being a mirror image bisected by an axis line. Asymmetry is where the mirror images are not the same. In describing any orchid of this nature, the asymmetries should be articulated. Almost all orchid features previously described can be asymmetrical, however, the most notable are due to bifurcated sheath, hood and especial labia. Below are the most common examples of asymmetries.

Bifurcation asymmetries:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheath and hood asymmetries:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Labial asymmetries:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On a personal note, I find asymmetries the most splendiferous aspect of orchids, and a major driving force behind developing FOCS. It goes to the heart of knowing whether an orchid has features that are previously undiscovered, new and unclassified, or within the large domain of classified asymmetries.

Below are a mixture of orchid asymmetries just for fun:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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