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
Which orchid genus produces dark seed pods used worldwide for flavoring?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Which North American bog orchid is commonly known as the grass pink orchid?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The modified bottom petal of an orchid that serves as a landing pad for pollinators is called the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
Orchids that grow rooted normally in ground soil are classified as _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
What continent is the only one in the world that has no native orchid species?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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.
The scent of some orchid species attracts pollinators by mimicking animal pheromones or _ _ _ _ .
FOODIn botanical terms the fruit produced by an orchid is classified as a seed _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
CAPSULEWhich miniature epiphytic orchid genus features small fan-shaped overlapping leaves?
OBERONIAWhat porous volcanic rock is frequently mixed into orchid potting media for drainage?
PERLITEWhat leaf pigment turns orchid leaves dark green when the plant receives too little light?
CHLOROPHYLLWhat color is the velamen coating on mature dormant aerial roots of orchids?
SILVERThe orchid species Vanilla planifolia is originally native to central and South _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
AMERICAOrchids that grow attached to trees without parasitizing them are classified as _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
EPIPHYTESThe bamboo orchid genus native to tropical Asia with reed-like stems is named _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
ARUNDINAExcessive water retention in potting media around orchid roots frequently leads to root _ _ _ .
ROTWhich island in the Indian Ocean is world-famous for extensive vanilla orchid plantations?
REUNIONWhat macronutrient in fertilizer encourages rapid green leaf and shoot growth on orchids?
NITROGENWhich orchid genus has a flower lip modified into a bucket that traps visiting bees?
CORYANTHESWhich country produces the largest share of the world's natural vanilla orchid crop?
MADAGASCARThe orchid genus Epidendrum includes over one thousand species native to the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
AMERICASWhat part of the vanilla orchid plant is harvested and cured to yield vanilla extract?
PODThe famous corsage orchid genus with large brightly colored flowers is named _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
CATTLEYAOrchid pollen is bundled into compact waxy masses known as _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
POLLINIASwollen stem bases that orchids use to store water and nutrients during dry spells are called _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
PSEUDOBULBSWhat type of climate is home to the highest concentration and diversity of orchid species?
TROPICALThe star orchid Angraecum sesquipedale famously has a nectar spur over ten inches _ _ _ _ .
LONGThe native habitat of the famous blue Vanda orchid is the Himalayan foothill region of _ _ _ _ _ .
INDIAThe Australian underground orchid genus that lives completely subterranean is named _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
RHIZANTHELLAAn old leafless pseudobulb that remains on an orchid plant as a nutrient reserve is a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
BACKBULBBecause orchid seeds lack a food reserve called _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ they are microscopic like dust.
ENDOSPERMWhich bright yellow orchid genus is popular in floristry and known as the dancing-lady orchid?
ONCIDIUMThe outer spongy tissue layer on aerial roots of epiphytic orchids that absorbs water is the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
VELAMENThe swan orchid genus known for producing distinct male and female flowers on one plant is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
CYCNOCHESWhich South American slipper orchid genus is known for long cascading ribbon-like petals?
PHRAGMIPEDIUMThe tulip orchid genus famous for large fragrant waxy flowers is named _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
ANGULOAThe common name for Phalaenopsis orchids derives from their resemblance to flying _ _ _ _ _ .
MOTHSThe golden chain orchid genus featuring hanging sprays of tiny yellow flowers is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
DENDROCHILUMWhat specialized structure in orchid flowers is formed by the fusion of male stamens and female pistils?
COLUMNThe scientific family name for all orchids is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
ORCHIDACEAEWhich white-flowered native North American orchid genus is commonly called lady's tresses?
SPIRANTHESThe star-shaped comet orchid genus native to Madagascar and Africa is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
ANGRAECUMWhich organ in an orchid flower produces the pollen packets?
ANTHERWhich colorful terrestrial orchid genus is commonly known as the rainbow orchid?
THELYMITRAThe modified lip of an orchid flower is often simply referred to as the _ _ _ .
LIPThe genus of orchids known for bizarre alien-like flowers and triggers is named _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
BULBOPHYLLUMThe lady's slipper orchid genus native to North American woodlands is named _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
CYPRIPEDIUMThe orchid flower structure called a spur often holds a sweet reward called _ _ _ _ _ _ .
NECTARWhich jewel orchid genus is grown primarily for its shimmering patterned foliage rather than flowers?
LUDISIAThe Victorian obsession with collecting exotic orchid species was called _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
ORCHIDMANIANaturalist Charles _ _ _ _ _ _ predicted the existence of a longtongued moth that pollinates the star orchid.
DARWINWhat color are the aerial root tips of a actively growing epiphytic orchid?
GREENWhat type of organism must orchid seeds partner with in order to germinate in nature?
FUNGUSWhich spider orchid genus is named for its extremely long and thin spidery petals?
BRASSIAWhat common indoor potting substrate made from coconut husks is widely used for orchids?
COIRWhat physical growth habit describes orchids that grow horizontally along a creeping rhizome?
SYMPODIALBecause soil smothers epiphytic roots orchids are usually potted in coarse tree _ _ _ _ .
BARKThe protective sterile stamen on lady's slipper orchids is called a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
STAMINODEWhich popular orchid genus has long arching flower sprays often called boat orchids?
CYMBIDIUMWhich orchid genus has explosive flowers that launch pollinia onto visiting insects?
CATASETUMThe orchid genus Brassavola is famous for releasing a strong sweet fragrance at _ _ _ _ _ .
NIGHTWhich major world ocean surrounds the tropical island of Madagascar where vanilla orchids thrive?
INDIANWhich common sap-sucking pest forms white cottony clusters in orchid leaf axils?
MEALYBUGThe popular genus of orchids with cane-like pseudobulbs native to Asia and Australia is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
DENDROBIUMWhich orchid genus features a pouch-shaped lip and is known as the slipper orchid?
PAPHIOPEDILUMWhich sphinx moth was discovered decades after Darwin predicted it pollinates the star orchid?
XANTHOPANWhat is the primary substance that orchids store inside their fleshy pseudobulbs?
WATERThe flower lip of the bucket orchid contains a slick fluid-filled bucket that holds _ _ _ _ _ _ .
LIQUIDThe fragrant boat orchid genus Cymbidium originates primarily from the continent of _ _ _ _ .
ASIAWhich orchid genus produces flowers that deceive male insects by mimicking female bees?
OPHRYSWhat organ on a climbing Vanilla orchid anchors the vine to host trees?
ROOTOrchids that grow directly on rocks and stones rather than trees or soil are called _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
LITHOPHYTESWhat gas do orchid pseudobulbs store overnight to conserve water during hot daylight hours?
CARBONDIOXIDEThe Australian hammer orchid genus that tricks wasps with an elbowed, hinged lip is _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
DRAKAEAWhat microscopic organisms form a symbiotic relationship to nourish germinating orchid seeds?
FUNGIWhich bright orange or red orchid genus is closely related to Cattleya?
SOPHRONITISHow many protective outer sepals does a typical orchid blossom have?
THREEHow many true petals does a standard symmetrical orchid bloom possess?
THREESmall hard shell-like insects that attach to orchid leaves and stems are called _ _ _ _ _ .
SCALEThe popular epiphytic orchid genus known for fans of strap-like leaves and blue flowers is _ _ _ _ _ .
VANDAWhat specialized nocturnal metabolic pathway, used by many succulent orchids to conserve water, involves opening stomata at night instead of during the day?
CAMThe dragon's mouth orchid genus native to North American bogs is named _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
ARETHUSAWhat natural color are the flowers of the classic Vanilla planifolia vine?
CREAMWhat physical growth habit describes orchids that grow upward along a single vertical stem like Vanda?
MONOPODIALThe white-flowered orchid genus commonly known as moth orchid is named _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
PHALAENOPSISWhat primary insect pollinates the Vanilla orchid in its native wild habitat?
BEEWhich species of bee is famous for naturally pollinating the vanilla blossom in Mexico?
MELIPONAWhat color is the foliage of the popular jewel orchid Ludisia discolor?
MAROONWhat microscopic reproductive structures are released by the millions from a single orchid pod?
SEEDSWhich fragrant orchid genus is commonly known as the pansy orchid?
MILTONIAThe 180-degree twisting process that turns an orchid flower upside down as it blooms is called _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
RESUPINATIONWhat female floral organ receives pollen during fertilization in orchids?
STIGMAWhat element in orchid fertilizer promotes strong root development and flower blooming?
PHOSPHORUSWhat form of symmetry where each half mirrors the other is featured in orchid blossoms?
BILATERALThe giant orchid species Grammatophyllum speciosum can weigh well over a thousand _ _ _ _ _ _ .
POUNDSWhich Central American ancient civilization combined vanilla orchid pods with cacao to make chocolate drinks?
AZTECSBecause vanilla flowers open for less than one day commercial crops must be pollinated by _ _ _ _ .
HANDA miniature clone plantlet growing off the cane of a Dendrobium orchid is called a _ _ _ _ _ .
KEIKI