How can you tell a male from a female orchid?

[Libertyrules]

Every so often, I read that the female flowers are different from male flowers. What's the difference? Is it the plant male or female, or can a plant have both male and female flowers. I notice this is never mentioned in online orchid stores. And is one preferable over the other?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Most orchid flowers contain both male and female reproductive organs in one flower.

There are exceptions to this. One group of orchids that have separate sex flowers are the Catasetinae.

Female reproductive organs have a stigma and stigmatic opening.

Male reproductive organs have pollinia and anther caps.

Something to this degree.

Look up the orchid flower's anatomy. There's plenty of info out there.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Online orchid vendors only have one purpose...

To sell you an orchid. They have little responsibility to actually educate you on the specifics of orchids and orchid growing.

That's what going to botany classes, learning on your own, orchid societies, and online communities are for.

[PaphMadMan]

By far most orchids have flowers with both male and female parts and function.

Some orchids, such as Catasetum, have either male or female only flowers on an inflorescence. Which it will be is determined by environmental conditions. The same plant can have different gender flowers at different times, which have such different appearance that they were at first thought to be different species.

I wouldn't be surprised if some orchids have separate male and female flowers on the same inflorescence, or separate male and female plants, but I'm not aware of any.

[Libertyrules]

Wow, that was fast and informative. Thanks very much.

[Swamper]

and welcome to the OB

[natasha]

one orchid i know that have separate male & female flower is Dimophorchis lowii in one inflorescence. please correct of wrong...

[Ray]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Online orchid vendors only have one purpose...

To sell you an orchid. They have little responsibility to actually educate you on the specifics of orchids and orchid growing.

That's what going to botany classes, learning on your own, orchid societies, and online communities are for.

I BEG your pardon!

I am an online orchid vendor, but more than 90% of my website content is free information intended precisely to educate growers.

[Libertyrules]

Mr. Barkalow - I was already aware of First Rays, and I do commend you for having one of the most accessible information sites for orchid growers. Every topic laid out on one page is the best I have seen. I found things I didn't even know I need to know.

[Jerry Delaney]

A guide in Alaska once told me the way to tell female bald eagles from male bald eagles was the females had the pocketbook while the males had the remote!! Maybe this applies to orchids.
I think MadMan is right. On occasion, Catasetums may have female, male and perfect flowers on the same plant. There were some species that were given as many as three names because, as Philip said, the flowers looked so different that they thought they were three separate species.