2n: A plant with two sets of chromosomes. This is the normal condition.

4n: A plant with four sets of chromosomes. A normal plant is diploid with two sets of chromosomes. Most modern complex orchid’s hybrids are tetraploid. Compared to diploids, tetraploids general have larger, fuller and heavier substance flowers.

Backbulb: An old psuedobulb behind the part of a sympodial orchid that is actively growing. Although there may be no leaves the presence of undamaged "eyes" is a sign that growth is possible.

BS: Blooming Size

Bulb & Growth: A mature plant growth and a developing growth part.

Cascading: A synonym for pendulous

Cultivar: An individual plant and its vegetative propagations in cultivation; a horticultural variety.

Diploid: A plant with two sets of chromosomes. This is the normal condition.

Epiphyte: A plant which naturally grows upon another plant but does not derive any nourishment from it. Many of the orchids in cultivation are epiphytic.

Floriferous: Bearing flowers.

Hybrid: The offspring of a cross between species or hybrids.

Inflorescence: The flowering portion of a plant.

Intermediate: A term referring to an orchid's flower size, usually resulting in the hybridization of standard and miniature cymbidium orchids

Medium: The material in which an orchid is container-grown, it may be organic such as fir bark or inorganic such as lava rock.

Mericlone: A plant derived from tissue culture that is identical to its parent.

Meristem: The actively growing area of the plant from which mature tissues such as leaf, stems, flowers and roots originate.

Miniature: A term referring to an orchid's flower size, the offspring of plants that produce small (smaller than 3cm) flowers. Cymbidium species such as devonianum, floribundum and madidum are miniature types.

NBS: Near Blooming Size

Pendulous: Referring to flowering habit which is gently or rapidly flowing over the edge of the pot.

Psuedobulb: A thickened portion of the stem of many orchids, functioning as a water and food storage device.

Seedling: A plant that has grown from seed and is genetically unique to itself.

Species: A kind of plant that is distinct from other plants.

Standard: A term referring to an orchid's flower size, the offspring of plants that produce large (greater than 8cm) flowers. Cymbidium species such as Lowianum, Tracyanum, and Insigne are standard types.

Tetraploid: A plant with four sets of chromosomes. A normal plant is diploid with two sets of chromosomes. Most modern complex orchids hybrids are tetraploid. Compared to diploids, tetraploids generally have larger, fuller and heavier substance flowers.