Orchid experts throw up their hands when people give their own names to the most beautiful orchid species. However, there are a few apt German names for orchids that have become established and that we can easily remember even without the Great Latinum. The following overview presents common terms.
What German names do orchid species have?
Some common names for orchids are: Butterfly orchid (Phalaenopsis), Pansy orchid (Miltonia), Cambria (Vuylstekeara), Grape orchid (Dendrobium), Tibetan orchid (Pleione), Venus slipper (Paphiopedilum) and Lady's slipper (Cypripedium).
Exotic orchids – How to reconcile scientific and German names
Since orchids have conquered supermarkets and hardware stores, scientific titles have increasingly moved into the background and given way to sales-promoting German names. To help you reconcile both versions, we have put together the following overview for you:
- Phalaenopsis: butterfly orchid, moth orchid, sunflower
- Miltonia: Pansy Orchid
- Vuylstekeara: Cambria
- Dendrobium: Grape Orchid
- Pleione: Tibetan orchid
- Paphiopedilum: Venus Slipper
- Cypripedium: Lady's Slipper
- Odontoglossum: toothed tongue
- Anguloa: Tulip Orchid
- Brassia: Spider Orchid
- Cymbidium: boat orchid, boat lip
- Ludisia: Jewel Orchid
- Bletilla: Japanese orchid
In addition, regional common names have been established to make buying orchids at flower markets more attractive. If you are specifically looking for a specific orchid, only the scientific name is an unambiguous guide.
Native orchids with scientific and German names
While the scientific names of the exotic orchid species can largely be determined by a single trivial name, the native orchids are characterized by a floral Tower of Babel. The following selection provides an overview:
- Orchis: Orchid, Fool's Cap, Purple Orchid, Helmet Orchid
- Dactylorhiza: orchid, cinquefoil, cuckoo flower
- Anacamptis: dogwort, orchid, pointed orchis, comb stem
- Platanthera: forest hyacinth, mountain hyacinth, mountain cuckoo flower
- Spiranthes spiralis: Twisted Root, Autumn Twisted Root
- Ophrys: Ragwort, Spider Ragwort, Fly Ragwort, Bumblebee Ragwort
- Epipactis: Stendelwort,
- Cephalanthera: forest bird
Of the exotic orchids, the Cypripedium calceolus is the only one of its kind that has adapted so excellently to our climate that it can be found in fields and forests. Their most famous German names are Yellow Lady's Slipper, Marienfrauenschuh, Rotbrauner Frauenschuh or European Frauenschuh.
Tip
In addition to the scientific names for orchid species, other technical terms from Latin and Greek are important for successful care. When we talk about an epiphytic orchid, it is an epiphytic plant from trees in the rainforest. Terrestrial species thrive as terrestrial orchids. Lithophytic orchids prefer a place on rocks and other rocks.