Perspective . . .

[Orchid Whisperer]

Today I'm assembling photos and text into a presentation called "Introduction to Orchids" for the Northeast Georgia Orchid Society.

While researching material for the presentation, I came across a tidbit of information, that there is solid scientific information that orchids were on the planet 76 to 84 million years ago, and co-existed with dinosaurs. This is based on Harvard paleontologists finding bees preserved in amber that clearly have identifiable pollinia attached to their backs.

This means that orchids not only lived with dinosaurs, but survived the cataclysm that wiped out the dinosaurs, and a large percentage of life on Earth. Possibly caused by collision of an asteroid or comet with Earth. And orchids survived and thrived afterward.

In perspective, we should not worry too much when we forget to water for a couple of days, use the wrong fertilizer, or don't dab cinnamon on a cut leaf.

[AnonYMouse]

Not having a mind for paleo-anything, I can't remember the details of something I read. And I could have completely dreamed it, my memory of it being so vague: Orchids originated on Gondwana.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

Not having a mind for paleo-anything, I can't remember the details of something I read. And I could have completely dreamed it, my memory of it being so vague: Orchids originated on Gondwana.

Gondwanaland (= Gondwana) was the supercontinent that broke apart about 130 million years ago. Gondwanaland was a big land mass that included nearly all of the other land masses. The bee, and pollinia, we're in amber from the Dominican Republic, FWIW, and most of the DR is made of rock that is younger than 130 Ma. But, there could have been bits of the Gondwanaland nearby, certainly possible that orchids could have started on one of the other land masses and moved to the DR.

[AnonYMouse]

That may be.

My reference wouldn't have been DR related, though. More likely India slowly crashing into the rest of Asia (the part that sticks with me).

As I'm being forced to remember, perhaps rather randomly, I think I encountered that tidbit while reading about protea (and family), another Gondwana plant.

[Leafmite]

I have been interested in this stuff since I was a kid and enjoy reading articles promoting new discoveries and thoughts about our ancient world. When I was digging out our pond, I found rocks with imprints of leaves and water creatures which was quite cool. I did read some time ago that certain orchids are ancient. The latest, though, is that not all dinosaurs may have been killed off...some feathered ones might have managed to survive and became the ancestors of most of our birds. Pretty cool.

Good luck with your presentation!

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I have been interested in this stuff since I was a kid and enjoy reading articles promoting new discoveries and thoughts about our ancient world. When I was digging out our pond, I found rocks with imprints of leaves and water creatures which was quite cool. I did read some time ago that certain orchids are ancient. The latest, though, is that not all dinosaurs may have been killed off...some feathered ones might have managed to survive and became the ancestors of most of our birds. Pretty cool.

Good luck with your presentation!

Thanks!

You are right about the bird-dinosaur thing, BTW.

[Leafmite]

Science has come a long way from when Michael Crichton published his books. I am constantly amazed at all the new information we are discovering. It is an exciting time.