newbie question about Orchids that have 'bulbs'

[Skayc1]

i recently got an Oncidium Orchid, it has 4 'bulbs' what is the difference between the different kinds of orchids with bulbs? such as cattleya and other orchids with similar looks in their leaves? And I saw somewhere that Oncidium was called Dancing Lady, is that a named Oncidium, or a generic name all Oncidiums get called? mine had no tag, so it's a Noid..

[tucker85]

Dancing lady is a generic name used for a group of oncidiums with flowers that look like little ladies dancing with a big skirt. Oncidium Sweet Sugar is a typical dancing lady type. There are many other types of oncidiums with flowers that don't look like that.

Orchids like oncidiums and cattleyas have pseudobulbs (not real bulbs)because they come from areas that dry out during certain times of the year. The orchid can store water and nutrients in the pseudobulb to use during the dry season. Orchids like phaelenopsis come from very stable environments where some water is always available. They don't need to store water so they don't have pseudobulbs.

[james mickelso]

Great explanation Tucker. Thanks.