Space Orchid Drawing Reference
I have seen more drawings of Edosian orchids (mentioned in a DS9 novel) recently, which pleases me greatly.
In
an effort to encourage far more drawings of Edosian orchids, I’ve put
together this set of pictures as a reference for drawing weird orchids
in general!
Obviously, space orchids could look like whatever you want them to, but based on the orchid in the name, we can probably conclude that they look something like earth orchids.
That is pretty broad category because the Orchidaceae family is THE most diverse plant family on earth! However all orchids share one feature - they are all monocots - which means that unlike most plants they don’t have branching veins in their leaves - instead their leaves have parallel veins - like grass! Thus orchid leaves look like this.
Many orchids are epiphytes meaning that they live on tree branches - thus their roots look like this.
The roots are long and tough - ideal for grabbing onto tree bark and being exposed to the sunlight and dry air.
Even
in these two features there can be variation - but in general, if
you’re drawing an orchid, these are decent guides for what your orchids
leaves and roots should look like.
Flowers are where the real diversity of Orchidaceae starts. This is Phalaenopsis - the classic “orchid”.
Honestly
- that’s a boring orchid. Orchids are WILD y’all - there are orchids
that look like various things, orchids in a huge variety of shapes,
sizes and colors. Below is a sampling of their weird variety.
Notice
though, that all orchids have the same sort of general arrangement -
five petals, three usually arranged in a triangular shape and two -
often fused - arranged as a sort of “lip” or “pouch” towards the bottom
of the flower.
The white egret orchid.
I didn’t see a specific common name for this orchid - it’s Masdevallia caudivolvula
A lady’s slipper orchid - actually found in the wild in Eastern North America.
Flying duck orchids
And everyone’s perennial favorite, the Naked Man Orchid
Below
the cut are more picture references of orchid leaves, roots, flowers,
and for what orchids tend to look like growing on trees, on the ground
and in hanging pots.
I hope this is helpful to everybody! Feel free to message me with questions about orchids or plants in general!
winterfireice