Scientific jargon I learnt

[Ravi]

Came across terminology I found It educative:
Grouping of orchids:
Epiphytic , not parasitic.
Terrestrial
Lithophytic habitat : rocks.
Epiphytic scavenge ( if that is the correct word) the decaying leaves ,dead insects. Functions of aerial roots besides capturing moisture from the air also participate in CO2 , by virtue of having chlorophyll participate in photosynthesis- which explains rescue of damaged Phalaenopsis.
Another piece of info found interesting was phal and Vanda classified under monopodial shoots by virtue of upright shoots and Cattleya and Dendrobiums fall in sympodial shoots.
The main purpose of the spike besides its aesthetics is obviously reproduction by cross pollination but how much this achieved in orchids?
Info browsed and sourced from the internet