Orchids rules the kingdom of flowering plants. Of the over 25,000 species found worldwide, Malaysia is home to some 850 species in the peninsula and another 2,500 in Sabah and Sarawak. Orchids of all types have also often been sought by collectors of both species and hybrids. Orchids are well known for the many structural variations in their flowers. Most Malaysian orchids are epiphytes – plants that grow on others for physical support without harming the host. Some grow on the ground and a limited few thrive on decaying plant matter.
