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"What if they Mated ?" isn't really a game, it's more of an educational exercise designed to give a little insight into orchid evolution and hybridization. There are many reasons why people immerse themselves in the study of this highly evolved group of plants, among them is the volatile nature of their speciation. On an evolutionary scale, orchids are virtually evolving before our very eyes. Within families of orchids incest rules and interbreeding with brothers, sisters and cousins is common. Hence there are many natural hybrids which through the vagaries of nature may one day become species on their own. If you are a hair-splitter, orchids are the plants to split hairs over. Taxonomists regularly throw the orchid horticulturists into a tizzy every few years by re-arranging things.

In order to make any sense of this feature I have mostly avoided complex hybrids. Some of the hybrids are man-made and some occur naturally, the latter are marked with a *. Although there are only a few pages now more will be added as flowers are photographed, please be patient. To play, observe this sketch for instructions, then read the note below the sketch.

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