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Alternatively Orchidaceae-Monandrae
Including Limodoraceae Horan., Thyridiaceae Dulac, Vanillaceae Lindl.; excluding Apostasiaceae, Cypripediaceae.
Habit and leaf form. Herbs (of diverse forms). ‘Normal’ plants, or switch-plants, or plants of very peculiar vegetative form (some producing but a single leaf, some achlorophyllous, three species completely subterranean (Rhizanthella)); sometimes with the principal photosynthesizing function transferred to stems, or ‘cactoid’, with succulent, photosynthetic stems; sometimes neotenic. Leaves well developed, or much reduced, or absent (sometimes). Plants succulent (often), or non-succulent; usually at least ostensibly autotrophic, or parasitic; if "parasitic", initially endomycorrhizal as a 'protocorm', usually subsequently becoming green and ectomycorrhizal mycoheterotrophic; when mature, green and photosynthesizing, or not green. Perennial; with a basal aggregation of leaves, or without conspicuous aggregations of leaves; cormous, or rhizomatous, or tuberous, or pseudobulbaceous. Self supporting, or epiphytic (predominantly), or climbing (many Vanilloideae). Helophytic, or mesophytic, or xerophytic. Leaves persistent, or deciduous (commonly so in Orchidoideae); small to large; alternate (usually), or opposite (rarely), or whorled (rarely); spiral, or distichous; flat, or folded, or rolled, or terete; ‘herbaceous’, or leathery, or fleshy, or membranous; imbricate, or not imbricate; petiolate; sheathing. Leaf sheaths tubular. Leaves with blades borne edgewise to the stem, or with blades ‘normally orientated’; simple; often jointed at the hase of the blade. Lamina entire; generally linear, or lanceolate, or oblong, or ovate; parallel-veined (but rarely distally pseudo-palmate - e.g. in Nervilia); cross-venulate (usually), or without cross-venules; auriculate at the base, or cordate, or hastate, or sagittate, or attenuate to the base, or cuneate at the base, or oblique at the base, or rounded at the base. Lamina margins usually entire. Vernation conduplicate, or plicate, or convolute.
General anatomy. Plants with silica bodies (in idioblastic ‘stegmata’, which are ‘present in the leaves of many genera’).
Leaf anatomy. The leaf lamina dorsiventral (at least mostly). Epidermis containing silica bodies, or without silica bodies (?). Stomata present; anomocytic, or paracytic. The mesophyll containing mucilage cells (with raphides), or not containing mucilage cells; containing crystals. The crystals raphides. Foliar vessels present (but sought in only two genera); with scalariform end-walls. Minor leaf veins without phloem transfer cells (Epipactis, Listera).
Axial (stem, wood) anatomy. Secondary thickening absent. The axial xylem with vessels (in 9 of the 15 genera listed by Wagner, 1977), or without vessels.
The vessel end-walls scalariform.
Root anatomy. Roots with velamen (in epiphytic forms), or without velamen. Root xylem with vessels (in the 4 genera where sought); vessel end-walls simple (in Vanilla, the only genus recorded for this feature by Wagner 1977).
Reproductive type, pollination. Unisexual flowers absent. Plants usually hermaphrodite. Floral nectaries present (but no septal nectaries). Nectar secretion from the perianth, or from the gynoecium (extrafloral nectaries also widespread). Pollination entomophilous (overwhelmingly, but the original description of the monotypic genus Crybe implies it may be cleistogamous); mechanism conspicuously specialized (in great variety, with complex morphological adaptations to the behaviour of pollinators, and often involving hygroscopic movements of pollinia).
Inflorescence, floral, fruit and seed morphology. Flowers solitary, or aggregated in ‘inflorescences’; when aggregated, in panicles, or in racemes, or in spikes, or in heads, or in umbels. The ultimate inflorescence units racemose. Inflorescences scapiflorous, or not scapiflorous; terminal, or axillary. Flowers small to large; fragrant, or odourless; very irregular; zygomorphic (the inner median member being generally enlarged and different in colour, forming the characteristic labellum — this being posterior (adaxial) in origin, but usually appearing anterior (abaxial) through torsion of the pedicel); resupinate (usually), or not resupinate (in Orthopenthea, some species of Disa, Anochilus, Herschelianthe, Prasophyllum, etc.). The floral irregularity involving the perianth and involving the androecium. Flowers 3 merous; cyclic; supposedly basically pentacyclic. Perigone tube absent.
Perianth of ‘tepals’ (usually), or with distinct calyx and corolla (the outer members sometimes green); 6; free, or joined (two or more tepals often coherent at the base, sometimes adherent to the gynoecium); 2 whorled; isomerous (but zygomorphic); petaloid, or sepaloid and petaloid; without spots, or spotted (occasionally). Tepal apex trichomes (TAT) absent (25 genera). Calyx (if the outer whorl be so designated) 3 (the median member usually ostensibly posterior); 1 whorled; polysepalous, or partially gamosepalous, or gamosepalous. Corolla (i.e. the members of the inner whorl) 3; polypetalous, or partially gamopetalous, or gamopetalous; imbricate; (labellum) spurred (often), or not spurred.
Androecium 3. Androecial members free of the perianth, or adnate (via fusion of tepals and gynostemium); united with the gynoecium (nearly always fused with the style to form a ‘gynostemium’, except in rare cases when anthers and stigma are more or less sessile); coherent (via the gynostemium); 1 adelphous; theoretically 2 whorled. Androecium including staminodes. Staminodes 2 (these morphologically anterior (usually ostensibly posterior), supposedly the abaxial pair of the inner whorl); theoretically internal to the fertile stamens. Stamens 1 (this across the flower from the labellum, i.e. anterior but usually ostensibly posterior, supposedly representing the outer whorl); reduced in number relative to the adjacent perianth; alterniperianthial (i.e. with reference to the single stamen, across the flower from the labellum); filantherous, or with sessile anthers. Anthers dorsifixed to basifixed; dehiscing via longitudinal slits; introrse; tetrasporangiate; appendaged, or unappendaged. Endothecium developing fibrous thickenings. The endothecial thickenings spiral, or girdling. Anther epidermis persistent. Microsporogenesis simultaneous. The initial microspore tetrads tetrahedral, or isobilateral. Anther wall initially with one middle layer, or initially with more than one middle layer (1 or 2); of the ‘monocot’ type. Tapetum glandular. Pollen shed in aggregates (usually), or shed as single grains (monads known in about 17 genera); when in aggregates, in tetrads, or in the form of waxy pollinia (the single grains or tetrads held together by strands of sterile sporogenous material). Pollen grains aperturate (occasionally), or nonaperturate; when aperturate, 1 aperturate, or 3–4 aperturate (rarely); sulcate, or sulculate, or ulcerate, or porate, or foraminate; 2-celled (in 14 genera).
Gynoecium 3 carpelled. Carpels isomerous with the perianth. The pistil 1 celled. Gynoecium syncarpous; eu-syncarpous; inferior. Ovary 1 locular. The ‘odd’ carpel anterior (away from the labellum). Gynoecium stylate. Styles 1 (inflexed); apical. Stylar canal present. Stigmas 1; 3 lobed (but becoming much modified in form, the apex of the median lobe forming the ‘rostellum’); wet type; papillate; Group III type. Placentation parietal. Ovules not differentiated; in the single cavity 30–100 (i.e. very numerous); non-arillate; anatropous; bitegmic (usually), or unitegmic; tenuinucellate. Outer integument not contributing to the micropyle. Embryo-sac development Polygonum-type (mostly), or Allium-type. Antipodal cells formed, or not formed (then the nuclei degenerating, e.g. Cymbidium, Dendrobium); when formed, 1–3; not proliferating; ephemeral. Embryogeny when determinable asterad.
Fruit fleshy (sometimes), or non-fleshy; dehiscent (usually), or indehiscent; a capsule (usually), or a berry (e.g. some Vanilleae). Capsules septicidal, or loculicidal. Fruit 30–500 seeded (i.e. seeds usually tiny, thin walled, very numerous and wind dispersed, but larger and crustose in some Vanilloideae where they are dispersed by grazing animals). Seeds endospermic (endosperm development arrested very early), or non-endospermic. Perisperm absent. Seeds minute. Seeds without starch. Embryo rudimentary at the time of seed release (usually), or weakly differentiated. Embryo chlorophyllous (6/7). Testa without phytomelan.
Seedling. Seed germination resulting first in development of an endomycorrhizal 'protocorm'. Seedling collar not conspicuous. Coleoptile absent. Primary root ephemeral.
Physiology, phytochemistry. C3, or CAM. C3 physiology recorded directly in Spathoglottis, Arundina, Coelogyne, Oncidium. CAM recorded directly in Aerangis, Aeranthes, Aerides, Arachnis, Aranda, Aranthera, Ascocentrum, Brassavola, Bulbophyllum, Cadetia, Calanthe, Cattleya, Caularthron, Chiloschista, Coelogyne, Cymbidium, Cyrtochilum, Dendrobium, Dimerandra, Encyclia, Epidendrum, Eria, Flickingeria, Gussonia, Ida, Jumellea, Laelia, Lanium, Lissochilus, Luisia, Maxillaria, Microcoelia, Micropera, Mobilabium, Oberonia, Oeonia, Oncidium, Ornithidium, Phalaenaopsis, Pholidota, Plectrorrhiza, Pleurothallis, Polyradicion, Rhinerrhiza, Robiquetia, Saccolabiopsis, Saccolabium, Sarcochilus, Schoenorchis, Schomburgkia, Solenangis, Sophronitis, Taeniophyllum, Thrixspermum, Thunia, Trachoma, Trichoglottis, Vanda, Vanilla, Vanda. Anatomy non-C4 type (Habenaria, Spathoglottis, Vanda). Not cyanogenic. Alkaloids present (commonly), or absent. Saponins/sapogenins present (rarely), or absent. Proanthocyanidins present (rarely), or absent; when present, cyanidin. Flavonols absent (save for kaempferol in one species of Dendrobium). Ellagic acid absent. Sieve-tube plastids P-type; type II.
Geography, cytology. Frigid zone (rare), temperate to tropical. Cosmopolitan, most abundant in the tropics. X = 6–29 (or more).
Taxonomy. Subclass Monocotyledonae. Dahlgren et al. Superorder Liliiflorae; Orchidales. APG III core angiosperms; Superorder Lilianae; non-commelinid Monocot. APG IV Order Asparagales.
Species about 17000. Genera about 850; VANILLOIDEAE: Cleistes, Cleistesiopsis, Clematepistephium, Cyrtosia, Duckeella, Epistephium, Eriaxis, Galeola, Isotria, Lecanorchis, Pogonia, Pseudovanilla, Vanilla. EPIDENDROIDEAE and ORCHIDOIDEAE: Aa, Abdominea, Acacallis, Acampe, Acanthephippium, Aceras, Aceratorchis, Acianthera, Acianthus, Acineta, Ackermania, Acoridium, Acostaea, Acriopsis, Acrochaene, Acrolophia, Acrorchis, Ada, Adenochilus, Adenoncos, Adrorhizon, Aerangis, Aeranthes, Aerides, Aganisia, Aglossorrhyncha, Agrostophyllum, Alamania, Altensteinia, Amblyanthe, Ambrella, Amerorchis, Amesiella, Amitostigma, Amparoa, Anacamptis, Ancistrochilus, Ancistrorhynchus, Androcorys, Angraecopsis, Angraecum, Anguloa, Anoectochilus, Ansellia, Anteriorchis, Anthogonium, Anthosiphon, Antillanorchis, Aorchis, Aphyllorchis, Aplectrum, Aporostylis, Aporum, Appendicula, Aracamunia, Arachnis, Archineottia, Arethusa, Armodorum, Arnottia, Arpophyllum, Arthrochilus, Artorima, Arundina, Ascidieria, Ascocentrum, Ascochilopsis, Ascochilus, Ascoglossum, Ascolabium, Aspasia, Aspidogyne, Aulosepalum, Auxopus, Baptistonia, Barbosella, Barbrodria, Barkeria, Barlia, Bartholina, Basigyne, Basiphyllaea, Baskervilla, Batemannia, Beclardia, Beloglottis, Benthamia, Benzingia, Biermannia, Bifrenaria, Binotia, Bipinnula, Bletia, Bletilla, Bogoria, Bolbidium, Bollea, Bolusiella, Bonatea, Bonniera, Brachionidium, Brachtia, Brachycorythis, Brachypeza, Brachystele, Bracisepalum, Braemia, Brassavola, Brassia, Briegeria, Bromheadia, Broughtonia, Brownleea, Buchtienia, Bulbophyllum, Bulleyia, Burnettia, Burnsbaloghia, Cadetia, Caladenia, Calanthe, Caleana, Callostylis, Calochilus, Calopogon, Caluera, Calymmanthera, Calypso, Calyptrochilum, Campanulorchis, Campylocentrum, Capanemia, Cardiochilus, Catasetum, Cattleya, Cattleyopsis, Caucaea, Caularthron, Centroglossa, Centrostigma, Cephalanthera, Cephalantheropsis, Ceratandra, Ceratocentron, Ceratochilus, Ceratostylis, Chamaeangis, Chamaeanthus, Chamaegastrodia, Chamelophyton, Chamorchis, Changnienia, Chaseella, Chaubardia, Chaubardiella, Chauliodon, Cheiradenia, Cheirostylis, Chelonistele, Chiloglottis, Chilopogon, Chiloschista, Chitonanthera, Chitonochilus, Chloraea, Chondradenia, Chondrorhyncha, Chroniochilus, Chrysocycnis, Chrysoglossum, Chusua, Chysis, Chytroglossa, Cirrhaea, Cirrhopetalum, Cischweinfia, Claderia, Cleisocentron, Cleisomeria, Cleisostoma, Clowesia, Coccineorchis, Cochleanthes, Cochlioda, Cocleorchis, Codonorchis, Codonosiphon, Coelia, Coeliopsis, Coeloglossum, Coelogyne, Coilochilus, Collabium, Comparettia, Comperia, Conchidium, Condylago, Constantia, Corallorrhiza, Cordiglottis, Coryanthes, Corybas, Corycium, Corymborkis, Corysanthes, Cottonia, Cotylolabium, Cranichis, Cremastra, Crepidium, Cribbia, Crossoglossa, Cryptarrhena, Cryptocentrum, Cryptochilus, Cryptopus, Cryptopylos, Cryptostylis, Cuitlauzina, Cyanaeorchis, Cybebus, Cyclopogon, Cycnoches, Cylindrolobus, Cymbidiella, Cymbidium, Cymboglossum, Cynorkis, Cyphochilus, Cypholoron, Cyrtidiorchis, Cyrtopodium, Cyrtorchis, Cyrtostylis, Cystorchis, Dactylorhiza, Dactylorhynchus, Dactylostalix, Degranvillea, Deiregyne, Dendrobium, Dendrochilum, Dendrophylax, Diadenium, Diaphananthe, Diceratostele, Dicerostylis, Dichaea, Dichromanthus, Dickasonia, Dictyophyllaria, Didiciea, Didymoplexiella, Didymoplexis, Diglyphosa, Dignathe, Dilochia, Dilochiopsis, Dilomilis, Dimerandra, Dimorphorchis, Dinema, Dinklageella, Diothonea, Diphylax, Diplandrorchis, Diplocaulobium, Diplocentrum, Diplolabellum, Diplomeris, Diploprora, Dipodium, Dipteranthus, Dipterostele, Disa, Discyphus, Disperis, Distylodon, Dithyridanthus, Diuris, Dockrillia, Dodsonia, Dolichocentrum, Domingoa, Doritis, Dossinia, Dracula, Drakaea, Dresslerella, Dressleria, Dryadella, Dryadorchis, Drymoanthus, Drymoda, Dunstervillea, Dyakia, Earina, Eggelingia, Eleorchis, Elleanthus, Eloyella, Eltroplectris, Elythranthera, Embreea, Encyclia, Entomophobia, Eparmatostigma, Ephippianthus, Epiblastus, Epiblema, Epicranthes, Epidanthus, Epidendrum, Epigeneium, Epilyna, Epipactis, Epipogium, Eria, Eriochilus, Eriodes, Eriopexis, Eriopsis, Erycina, Erythrodes, Erythrorchis, Esmeralda, Euanthe, Eucosia, Eulophia, Eulophiella, Euphlebium, Eurycentrum, Eurychone, Eurystyles, Evotella, Fernandezia, Ferruminaria, Fimbriella, Flickingeria, Frondaria, Fuertesiella, Funkiella, Galeandra, Galearis, Galeottia, Galeottiella, Garaya, Gastrochilus, Gastrodia, Gastrorchis, Gavilea, Geesinkorchis, Gennaria, Genoplesium, Genyorchis, Geoblasta, Geodorum, Glomera, Glossodia, Glossorhyncha, Gomesa, Gomphichis, Gonatostylis, Gongora, Goniochilus, Goodyera, Govenia, Gracielanthus, Grammangis, Grammatophyllum, Graphorkis, Grastidium, Greenwoodia, Grobya, Grosourdya, Gularia, Gunnarella, Gunnarorchis, Gymnadenia, Gymnadeniopsis, Gymnochilus, Gynoglottis, Habenaria, Hagsatera, Hammarbya, Hancockia, Hapalochilus, Hapalorchis, Harrisella, Hederorkis, Helcia, Helleriella, Helonoma, Hemipilia, Herminium, Herpetophytum, Herpysma, Herschelianthe, Hetaeria, Heterozeuxine, Hexalectris, Hexisea, Himantoglossum, Hintonella, Hippeophyllum, Hirtzia, Hispaniella, Hoehneella, Hofmeisterella, Holcoglossum, Holopogon, Holothrix, Homalopetalum, Horichia, Hormidium, Horvatia, Houlletia, Huntleya, Huttonaea, Hybochilus, Hygrochilus, Hylophila, Hymenorchis, Imerinaea, Inobulbon, Ione, Ionopsis, Ipsea, Isabelia, Ischnocentrum, Ischnogyne, Isochilus, Jacquiniella, Jejosephia, Jumellea, Kalimpongia, Kefersteinia, Kegeliella, Kerigomnia, Kinetochilus, Kingidium, Kionophyton, Koellensteinia, Konantzia, Kreodanthus, Kryptostoma, Kuhlhasseltia, Lacaena, Laelia, Laeliocattleya, Laeliopsis, Lanium, Lankesterella, Leaoa, Lemboglossum, Lemurella, Lemurorchis, Leochilus, Lepanthes, Lepanthopsis, Lepidogyne, Leporella, Leptotes, Lesliea, Leucohyle, Ligeophila, Limodorum, Liparis, Listera, Listrostachys, Lockhartia, Loefgrenianthus, Ludisia, Lueddemannia, Luisia, Lycaste, Lycomormium, Lyperanthus, Lyroglossa, Macodes, Macradenia, Macroclinium, Macropodanthus, Malaxis, Malleola, Manniella, Margelliantha, Masdevallia, Mastigion, Maxillaria, Mediocalcar, Megalorchis, Megalotus, Megastylis, Meiracyllium, Mendoncella, Mesadenella, Mesadenus, Mesoglossum, Mesospinidium, Mexicoa, Microcoelia, Micropera, Microphytanthe, Microsaccus, Microtatorchis, Microthelys, Microtis, Miltonia, Miltoniopsis, Mischobulbum, Mobilabium, Moerenhoutia, Monadenia, Monanthos, Monomeria, Monophyllorchis, Monosepalum, Mormodes, Mormolyca, Mycaranthes, Myoxanthus, Myrmechis, Myrmecophila, Myrosmodes, Mystacidium, Nabaluia, Nageliella, Nematoceras, Neobathiea, Neobenthamia, Neobolusia, Neoclemensia, Neocogniauxia, Neodryas, Neoescobaria, Neofinetia, Neogardneria, Neogyna, Neomoorea, Neotinea, Neottia, Neottianthe, Neowilliamsia, Nephelaphyllum, Nephrangis, Nervilia, Nidema, Nigritella, Nothodoritis, Nothostele, Notylia, Oberonia, Octarrhena, Octomeria, Odontochilus, Odontoglossum, Odontorrhynchus, Oeceoclades, Oeonia, Oeoniella, Oerstedella, Olgasis, Oligophyton, Oliveriana, Omoea, Oncidium, Ophidion, Ophrys, Orchipedum, Orchis, Oreorchis, Orestias, Orleanesia, Ornithocephalus, Ornithochilus, Ornithophora, Orthoceras, Osmoglossum, Ossiculum, Osyricera, Otochilus, Otoglossum, Otostylis, Pabstia, Pachites, Pachyphyllum, Pachyplectron, Pachystele, Pachystoma, Palmorchis, Palumbina, Panisea, Pantlingia, Paphinia, Papilionanthe, Papillilabium, Papperitzia, Papuaea, Paradisanthus, Paraphalaenopsis, Parapteroceras, Pecteilis, Pedilochilus, Pedilonum, Pelatantheria, Pelexia, Pennilabium, Peristeranthus, Peristeria, Peristylus, Pescatoria, Phaius, Phalaenopsis, Pholidota, Phragmorchis, Phreatia, Phymatidium, Physoceras, Physogyne, Pilophyllum, Pinalia, Piperia, Pityphyllum, Platanthera, Platycoryne, Platyglottis, Platylepis, Platyrhiza, Platystele, Platythelys, Plectorrhiza, Plectrelminthus, Plectrophora, Pleione, Pleurothallis, Pleurothallopsis, Plocoglottis, Poaephyllum, Podangis, Podochilus, Pogoniopsis, Polycycnis, Polyotidium, Polyradicion, Polystachya, Pomatocalpa, Ponera, Ponerorchis, Ponthieva, Porolabium, Porpax, Porphyrodesme, Porphyroglottis, Porphyrostachys, Porroglossum, Porrorhachis, Prasophyllum, Prescottia, Pristiglottis, Promenaea, Protoceras, Pseudacoridium, Pseuderia, Pseudocentrum, Pseudocranichis, Pseudoeurystyles, Pseudogoodyera, Pseudolaelia, Pseudorchis, Psilochilus, Psychilis, Psychopsiella, Psychopsis, Psygmorchis, Pterichis, Pteroceras, Pteroglossa, Pteroglossaspis, Pterostemma, Pterostylis, Pterygodium, Pygmaeorchis, Pyrorchis, Quekettia, Quisqueya, Rangaeris, Rauhiella, Raycadenco, Reichenbachanthus, Renanthera, Renantherella, Restrepia, Restrepiella, Restrepiopsis, Rhaesteria, Rhamphorhynchus, Rhinerrhiza, Rhizanthella, Rhynchogyna, Rhyncholaelia, Rhynchophreatia, Rhynchostele, Rhynchostylis, Rhytionanthos, Ridleyella, Rimacola, Risleya, Robiquetia, Rodriguezia, Rodrigueziella, Rodrigueziopsis, Roeperocharis, Rossioglossum, Rudolfiella, Rusbyella, Saccoglossum, Saccolabiopsis, Saccolabium, Sacoila, Salpistele, Sanderella, Sarcanthopsis, Sarcochilus, Sarcoglottis, Sarcoglyphis, Sarcophyton, Sarcostoma, Satyridium, Satyrium, Saundersia, Sauroglossum, Scaphosepalum, Scaphyglottis, Scelochiloides, Scelochilus, Schiedeella, Schistotylus, Schizochilus, Schizodium, Schlimmia, Schoenorchis, Schomburgkia, Schwartzkopffia, Scuticaria, Sedirea, Seidenfadenia, Sepalosiphon, Serapias, Sertifera, Sievekingia, Sigmatostalix, Silvorchis, Sinorchis, Sirhookera, Skeptrostachys, Smithorchis, Smithsonia, Smitinandia, Sobennikoffia, Sobralia, Solenangis, Solenidiopsis, Solenidium, Solenocentrum, Sophronitella, Sophronitis, Soterosanthus, Spathoglottis, Specklinia, Sphyrarhynchus, Sphyrastylis, Spiculaea, Spiranthes, Stalkya, Stanhopea, Staurochilus, Stelis, Stellilabium, Stenia, Stenocoryne, Stenoglottis, Stenoptera, Stenorrhynchos, Stephanothelys, Stereochilus, Stereosandra, Steveniella, Stictophyllum, Stigmatosema, Stolzia, Suarezia, Summerhayesia, Sunipia, Sutrina, Svenkoeltzia, Symphyglossum, Synanthes, Synarmosepalum, Systeloglossum, Taeniophyllum, Taeniorrhiza, Tainia, Tangtsinia, Tapeinoglossum, Taprobanea, Telipogon, Tetragamestus, Tetramicra, Teuscheria, Thaia, Thecopus, Thecostele, Thelasis, Thelychiton, Thelymitra, Thelyschista, Thrixspermum, Thulinia, Thunia, Thysanoglossa, Ticoglossum, Tipularia, Tolumnia, Townsonia, Trachyrhizum, Traunsteinera, Trevoria, Trias, Triceratorhynchus, Trichocentrum, Trichoceros, Trichoglottis, Trichopilia, Trichosalpinx, Trichosma, Trichotosia, Tridactyle, Trigonidium, Triphora, Trisetella, Trizeuxis, Tropidia, Trudelia, Tsaiorchis, Tuberolabium, Tubilabium, Tulotis, Tylostigma, Uleiorchis, Uncifera, Urostachya, Vanda, Vandopsis, Vargasiella, Vasqueziella, Ventricularia, Vesicisepalum, Vexillabium, Vrydagzynea, Wallnoeferia, Warmingia, Warrea, Warreella, Warreopsis, Warscaea, Warscewiczella, Wullschlaegelia, Xenikophyton, Xerorchis, Xiphosium, Xylobium, Yoania, Ypsilopus, Zeuxine, Zootrophion, Zygopetalum, Zygosepalum, Zygostates.
General remarks. No double fertilization. Orchidaceous seed germination characteristically results in an endomycorrhizal 'protocorm', with some plants remaining achlorophyllous and not becoming photosynthetic, but most becoming photosynthetic and ectomycorrhizal. The cladistically recognised subfamilies Vanilloideae, Epidendroideae and Orchidoideae (cf. Christenhusz et al., 2017) are taxonomically unimpressive, going undefined in terms of comparative data.
Quotations.
There, with
fantastic garlands, did she come,
Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies and
long-purples
That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,
But our cold
maids do dead men’s fingers call them.
(‘Hamlet’ iv., 7
— Orchis mascula)
I sought, the living bee to find,
And found
the picture of a bee
(Langhorn, quoted by Ann Pratt, ‘Wild
Flowers’ (1857))
Less than the coralroot, you know,
That is content
with the daylight low,
And has no leaves at all of its own;
Whose
spotted flowers hang meanly down
(Fobert Frost, ‘On Going
Unnoticed’ - Corallorhiza)
Illustrations. • Le Maout and Decaisne: Aceras, Epidendrum, Orchis. • Le Maout and Decaisne: Bulbophyllum, Lepanthes, Malaxis, Neottia, Oncidium, Phalaenopsis. • Le Maout and Decaisne: Angraecum, Epidendrum, Fernandezia, Phaius, Pleurothallis, Vanilla. • Le Maout and Decaisne: Chysis, Leptotes, Miltonia. • Dactylorhiza maculata, morphological details: Goebel. • Adenochilus gracilis and Caladenia minor: Hooker, Fl. Novae-Zelandiae (1853). • British: Orchis and Dactylorhiza (B. Ent. compilation). • British: Dactyorhiza incarnata (B. Ent.). • British: Cephalanthera damosonium (B. Ent.). • British: Corallorhiza trifida (B. Ent.). • British: Gymnadenia, Listera, Platanthera (B. Ent. compilation). • British: Listera cordata: B. Ent. 634. • British: Ophrys, Aceras, Spiranthes (B. Ent. compilation). • British: Coeloglossum, Neottia, Herminium, Epipactis, Anacamptis (B. Ent. compilation). • Australian: Caladenia spp. (photos). Caladenia flava (left) and C. reptans. Cranbrook, Western Australia, August 2005. Photos by Giles Watson. • Australian: Prasophyllum and Pterostylis (photos). Pterostylis recurva, Cranbrook, Western Australia; Prasophyllum cf. fimbria, Albany, Western Australia (note the adaxial labellum). Giles Watson, August 2005. • Australian: Diuris longifolia (photo). • Acanthephippium javanicum (as Acanthophippium): Bot. Mag. 76 (1850). • Acianthera prolifera (as Pleurothallis): Bot. Reg. 1298. • Anguloa uniflora: Bot. Mag. 80 (1854). • Anoectochilus regalis: as A. setaceus, Bot. Reg. 2010, 1837. • Arethusa bulbosa: Bot. Mag. 48 (1822). • Arundina graminifolia (as A. deusa): Bot. Reg. 37, 1842. Arundina graminifolia. 1, the lip excised and spread open. 2, the column. 3, the pollinia. • Arundina graminifolia, as A. bambusifolia: Bot. Mag. 119 (1893). • Aspasia variegata: Bot. Reg. 1907 (1836). Aspasia variegata. 1, details of the column (centre) and of the pollinia (left). • Aspasia variegata: Bot. Mag. 65 (1838). • Bletia purpurata (as Crybe rosea): Bot. Reg. 1872 (1836). • Bartholina burmanniana (as B. pectinata): Bot. Reg. 1653, 1835. Bartholina burmanniana. a, whole plant; b, flower from in front; c, flower from behind; d, flower in half profile, the lip cut away (l = spur); e, front view of "petals" (1 = spur) and anther (2). • Brachystele bracteosa (as Spiranthes): Bot. Reg. 1934, 1837. Brachystele bracteosa. 1, entire flower. 2, detail with perianth removed, showing the back of the column and the lip. • Brassavola acaulis (as B. lineata): Bot. Mag. 79 (1853). • Bromheadia finlaysoniana (as B. palustris): Bot. Reg. 1844, 18. Bromheadia finlaysoniana. 1, front view of the column. 2, adaxial view of the lip. 3, the gland and pollinia. • Bulbophyllum barbigerum: as Bolbophyllum, Bot. Reg. 1942, 1837. • Bulbophyllum fimbriatum (as Cirrhopetalum): Bot. Mag. 74 (1848). • Bulbophyllum grandiflorum: Bot. Mag. 127 (1901). • Bulbophyllum helenae (as Cirrhopetalum cornutum): Bot. Mag. 79 (1853). • Bulbophyllum longiflorum (as Cirrhopetalum thouarsii): Bot. Mag. 72 (1846). • Bulbophyllum longiflorum (as Cirrhopetalum thouarsii): Bot. Mag. 118 (1892). • Bulbophyllum longiflorum (as Cirrhopetalum thouarsii): Bot. Reg. XXIV, 11 (1838). • Bulbophyllum chinense (as Cirrhopetalum): Bot. Reg. 29 (49), 1843. • Bulbophyllum chinense (as Cirrhopetalum): Bot. Reg. 29 (49), 1843. • Bulbophyllum macraei (as Cirrhopetalum): Bot. Mag. 75 (1849). • Bulbophyllum medusae (as Cirrhopetalum): Bot. Reg. 12, 1842. Bulbophyllum medusae. 1, column, petals and labellum. 2, the labellum separated. • Bulbophyllum saltatorium: as Bolbophyllum, Bot. Reg. 1970, 1837. Bulbophyllum saltatorium. 1, a whole flower. 2, the column and “petals”. 3, the base of the lip. 4, the pollinia. • Burnettia cuneata and Caleana major: Hooker, Fl. Tasmaniae (1860). • Caladenia carnea: Bot. Mag. 124 (1898). • Calanthe madagascariensis: Bot. Mag. 127 (1901). • Calochilus campestris and Lyperanthus nigricans: Hooker, Fl. Tasmaniae (1860). • Campylocentrum micranthum: as Angraecum, Bot. Reg. 1772, 1836. Campylocentrum micranthum. 1, flower lip with the spur attached. 2, an entire flower. 3, a pair of pollinia with their gland. • Catasetum barbatum (as Myanthus spinosus): Bot. Mag. 67 (1840). • Catasetum callosum var. grandiflorum: Bot. Mag. 72 (1846). • Catasetum deltoideum: as Myanthus, Bot. Reg. 1896 (1836). • Catasetum luridum: Bot. Reg. 1667, 1835. • Cattleya elongata: Bot. Mag. 169 (1842). • Cattleya pumila: Bot. Reg. 1844, 5. • Cattleya pumila: Bot. Mag. 65 (1838). • Chloraea crispa: Bot. Mag. 130 (1904). • Cirrhaea dependens (as Gongora viridi-purpurea): Bot. Mag. 57 (1830). • Clowesia russelliana (as Catasetum): Bot. Mag. 66 (1840). • Crepidium josephianum (as Microstylis): Bot. Mag. 103 (1877). • Coryanthes macrantha: Bot. Mag. 126 (1900). • Corybas pictus (as Corysanthes limbata): Bot. Mag. 89 (1863). • Cleistes speciosa: Hook. Ic. Pl. (1842). • Coelogyne integerrima: Bot. Mag. 146 (1920). • Coelogyne lentiginosa: Bot. Mag. 98 (1872). • Coelogyne nervosa (as C. corrugata): Bot. Mag. 92 (1866). • Coelogyne trinervis (as C. rossiana): Bot. Mag. 117 (1891). • Coelogyne viscosa, as C. graminifolia: Bot. Mag. 146 (1920). • Corycium orobanchoides: Bot. Reg. XXIV, 45 (1838). Corycium orobanchoides. 1, profile of a complete flower. 2, front view of flower, with "petals" and the upper "sepal" removed. The twin apex of the lower, double "sepal" is visible at the base of the lip. 3, the column in profile, with the lip adhering to it, and one lobe of the (purple) anther. 4, front view of the column, the lip having been cut away (represented by the scar at upper edge). The glands of the pollinia lie in cavities of the rostellum. 5, a pollen mass detached from the now empty anther, adhering to the rostellum. 6, an anther, prior to detachment of the pollinium from its cell (cf. 5). • Crepidium metallicum (as Microstylis): Bot. Mag. 109 (1883). • Cryptostylis arachnites (as Zosterostylis): Bot. Mag. 89 (1863). • Cymbidium elegans, as Cyperorchis: Bot. Mag. 114 (1888). • Cymbidium hookerianum: Bot. Mag. 92 (1866). • cf. Cynorkis uniflora (as Cynorchis grandiflora): Bot. Mag. 123 (1897). • Cyrtochilum zebrinum (as Oncidium): Bot. Mag. 100 (1874). • Cyrtopodium punctatum: Bot. Mag. 63 (1836). • Cyrtorchis chailluana (as Angraecum): Bot. Mag. 92 (1866). • Dendrobium capillipes: Bot. Mag. 125 (1899). • Dendrobium heterocarpum (as D. aureum): Bot. Reg. 29 (17), 1843. • Dendrobium formosum: Bot. Reg. 1839, 64. • Dendrobium sanguinolentum: Bot. Reg. 29 (6), 1843. • Dendrobium sulcatum: Bot. Mag. 113 (1887). • Dipodium squamatum (as D. punctatum): Bot. Reg. 1980, 1837. Dipodium squamatum, with details of the flower. 1, column. 2, rhe labellum from above. 3, pollinia. • Disa incarnata: Bot. Mag. 118 (1892). • Disa lugens: Bot. Mag. 138 (1912). • Disa spathulata subsp. spathulata (as D. atropurpurea): Bot. Mag. 112 (1886). • Diuris maculata and D. sulphurea: Hooker, Fl. Tasmaniae (1860). • Diuris corymbosa and D. pedunculata: Hooker, Fl. Tasmaniae (1860). • Dracula chestertonii (as Masdevallia): Bot. Mag. 114 (1888). • Encyclia osmantha, as Epiosmanthum: Bot. Mag. 127 (1901). • Ellianthus longibracteatus (as E. xanthocomus): Bot. Mag. 99 (1873). • cf. Encyclia patens: as Epidendrum odoratissimum, Bot. Reg. 1415 (1831). • Epidendrum purpurascens (as E.clavatum): Bot. Reg. 1870 (1836). • Epidendrum stamfordianum: Bot. Mag. 80 (1854). • Epidendrum xanthinum: Bot. Mag. 124 (1899). • Epipogium aphyllum, as E. gmelinii: Bot. Mag. 80 (1854). • Epistephium williamsii: Bot. Mag. 90 (1864). • Eriopsis rutidobulbon: Bot. Mag. 75 (1849). • Esmeralda cathartii, as Vanda: Hooker’s Illustrations of Himalayan plants (1855). • Eulophia horsfallii (as Lissochilus sandersonii): Bot. Mag. 112 (1886). • Eulophia pulchra (as E. macrostachya): Bot. Mag. 102 (1876). • Eulophia zollingeri (as Cyrtopera sanguinea): Bot. Mag. 101 (1875). • Galeola lindleyana, as Cyrtosia: Hooker’s Illustrations of Himalayan plants (1855). • Galeottia grandiflora (as Batemannia): Bot. Mag. 92 (1866). • Gastrodia sesamoides: Hooker, Fl. Tasmaniae (1860). • Genoplesium archeri, G. despectans and G. nudum (as Prasophyllum spp.): Hooker, Fl. Tasmaniae (1860). • Gomesa micropogon (as Oncidium): Bot. Mag. 113 (1887). • Gongora portentosa: Bot. Mag. 103 (1877). • Govenia utriculata (as G. gardneri): Bot. Mag. 65 (1838). • Gomesa venusta (as Oncidium trulliferum): Bot. Reg. 1839, 57. • Habenaria armatissima (as H. ludgardii): Bot. Mag. 127 (1901). • Habenaria longicorniculata (as H. longecalcarata): Bot. Mag. 118 (1892). • Hemipilia calophylla (as H. amythestina): Bot. Mag. 123 (1897). • Ida fulvescens (as Lycaste): Bot. Mag. 71 (1845). • Isabelia violacea (as Sophronitis): Bot. Mag. 112 (1886). • Koellensteinia graminea: Bot. Mag. 104 (1878). • Koellensteinia ionoptera (as Aganisia): Bot. Mag. 118 (1892). • Laelia anceps: Bot. Reg. 1751, 1836. • Laelia anceps var.: as Laelia alba, Bot. Reg. 1839, 54. • Lepanthes tridentata: Bot. Reg. 1762, 1836. Lepanthes tridentata. 1, showing tridentate leaf apex. The column rests against the two upright downy ‘petals’, with its two-horned head (5) buried between the lateral lobes of the labellum (3 and 4). • Leptotes bicolor var. glaucophylla: Bot. Mag. 66 (1839). • Liparis cespitosa, as L. obscura: Hook. Ic. Pl. 19 (1889). • Listrostachys pertusa (as Angraecum): Bot. Mag. 80 (1854). • Lockhartia acuta: as Fernandezia, Bot. Reg. 1806, 1836. • Lycaste macrophylla: Bot. Reg. 29 (35), 1843. • Lycaste virginalis (as L. skinneri): Bot. Mag. 75 (1849). • Macodes petola (as M. javanica): Bot. Mag. 115 (1889). • Malaxis unifolia: Bot. Reg. 1290. • Masdevallia schlimii: Bot. Mag. 110 (1884). • Masdevallia schroederiana: Bot. Mag. 128 (1902). • Masdevallia trochilus (as M. ephippium): Bot. Mag. 102 (1876). • Maxillaria tenuifolia: Bot. Reg. 1839, 8. • Microtis arenaria and M. pulchella: Hooker, Fl. Tasmaniae (1860). • Miltonia spectabilis: Bot. Mag. 72 (1846). • Mormodes cartoni: Bot. Mag. 72 (1846). • Nematoceras macrantha and N. oblonga: Hooker, Fl. Novae-Zelandiae (1853). • Neocogniauxia monophylla (as Laelia): Bot. Mag. 109 (1883). • Neomoorea wallisii (as Moorea irrorata): Bot. Mag. 118 (1892). • Neottia tenuis and N. pinetorum, as Listera: Hook. Ic. Pl. 22 (1894). • Nervilia gammieana (as Pogonia): Bot. Mag. 109 (1883). • Nervilia plicata, as Pogonia pulchella: Bot. Mag. 111 (1885). • Nervilia plicata, as Pogonia discolor: Bot. Mag. 100 (1874). • Oberonia ensiformis (as O. iridifolia): Bot. Mag. 76 (1850). • Orchis maderensis: as O. foliosa, Bot. Reg. 1701, 1835. • Ophrys speculum: Bot. Mag. 96 (1870). • Paphinia cristata: Bot. Mag. 81 (1855). • Peristeria cerina: Bot. Reg. 1953, 1837. Peristeria cerina. 1, side view of column and lip, showing the mid-lobe of the latter bent inwards to press against the former. 2, front view of the column. 3, the pollinia with their glands. • Phaius wallichii: Bot. Mag. 114 (1888). • Phalaenopsis aphrodite: as P. amabilis, Bot. Reg. XXIV, 34 (1838). • Phalaenopsis cornu-cervae (as P. Polychilos): Bot. Mag. 92 (1866). • Phalaenopsis mariae: Bot. Mag. 113 (1887). • Pinalia bractescens (as Eria): Bot. Reg. 1844, 29. • Pinalia obesa (as Eria): Bot. Mag. 89 (1863). • Pinalia dillwynii (as Eria): Bot. Mag. 71 (1845). • Platanthera ciliaris, as Habenaria: Bot. Mag. 40 (1814). • Pleione humilis, as Coelogyne: Bot. Mag. 93 (1867). • Pleione praecox, as P. reichenbachiana: Bot. Mag. 95 (1869). • Pleurothallis glossopogon (as P. insignis): Bot. Mag. 113 (1887). • Polystachya affinis (as P. bracteosa): Bot. Mag. 71 (1845). • Polystachya elastica (as Lissochilus roseus): Bot. Reg. 1844, 12. • Polystachya neobenthamia (as Neobenthamia gracilis): Bot. Mag. 118 (1892). • Promenaea stapelioides (as maxillaria): Bot. Reg. 1839, 17. • Restrepia elegans: Bot. Mag. 98 (1872). • Rhyncholaelia digbyana (as Brassovola): Bot. Mag. 75 (1849). • Rodriguezia decora (as Burlingtonia): Bot. Mag. 81 (1855). • Specklinia grobyi (as Pleurothallis): Bot. Mag. 65 (1838). • Specklinia picta (as Pleurothallis): Bot. Reg. 1825, 1836. Specklinia picta. 1, detail of flower, showing column, "petals" and lip. 2, the column in isolation. 3, upper side of the lip. The pollinia, in situ (4) and separated from one another (5). • Pleurothallis sirene, as P. scapha: Bot. Mag. 121 (1895). • Podochilus khasianus: Hook. Ic. Pl. 22 (1894). • Porpax meirax (as Eria): Bot. Mag. 119 (1893). • Prasophyllum alpinum and P. fuscum: Hooker, Fl. Tasmaniae (1860). • Prasophyllum patens: Hooker, Fl. Tasmaniae (1860). • Prescottia stachyodes (as P. colorans): Bot. Reg. 1916 (1836). • Prosthechea sceptra, as Epidendrum: Bot. Mag. 117 (1891). • Prosthechea spondiada, as Epidendrum: Bot. Mag. 119 (1893). • Pseudocentrum minus: Hook. Ic. Pl. 14 (1882). • Pterostylis cucullata, P. dubia and P. obtusa (cf. Diplodium obtusum): Hooker, Fl. Tasmaniae (1860). • Pterostylis grandiflora: F. Bauer (1813). • Renanthera matutina: Bot. Reg. 29 (41), 1843. • Rhizanthella slateri (as Cryptanthemis): Rupp, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 57 (1932). • Sarcochilus falcatus: Bot. Reg 1832 (1836). • Scaphyglottis graminifolia(as S. violacea): Bot. Reg. 1901 (1836). Scaphyglottis graminifolia. 1, flower in profile. 2, side view of the column and lip. 3, lip viewed from above. 4, pollinia with their gland. • Spathoglottis plicata (as S. vieillardii): Bot. Mag. 114 (1888). • Stenoglottis longifolia: Bot. Mag. 117 (1891). • Stelis immersa, as Pleurothallis: Bot. Mag. 117 (1891). • Tainia bicornis: as Ania, Bot. Reg. 1844, 8. Tainia bicornis. 1, the lip. 2, the column, with its lengthened foot and two-horned anther. 3, the pollinia. • Thelmytra carnea and T. venosa: Hooker, Fl. Tasmaniae (1860). • Thelmytra ixioides and T. nuda: Hooker, Fl. Tasmaniae (1860). • Trichopilia subulata (as T. hymenantha): Bot. Mag. 98 (1872). • Trichotosia vestita (as Eria vestita): Bot. Mag. 95 (1869). • Vanda pumila: Bot. Mag. 130 1904). • Vanda tesselata, as V. roxburgii: Bot. Mag. 48 (1820). • Vanilla planifolia: Bot. Mag. 117 (1891). • Warscewiczella discolor (as Warrea): Bot. Mag. 81 (1855). • Warscewiczella flabelliformis: as Zygopetalum cochleare, Bot. Reg 1857 (1836). Warscewiczella flabelliformis. 1, base of the column, with bases of perianth members adhering. 2, the fleshy ridge of the lip. 3, the pollinia and their glands. • Yoania japonica: Hook. Ic. Pl. 14 (1880–82). • Xylobium leontoglossum: Bot. Mag. 115 (1889).
We advise against extracting comparative information from the descriptions. This is much more easily achieved using the DELTA data files or the interactive key, which allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting or lacking specified attributes, distributions of character states within any set of taxa, geographical distribution, genera included in each family, and classifications (Dahlgren; Dahlgren, Clifford, and Yeo; Cronquist; APG). See also Guidelines for using data taken from Web publications.
Cite this publication as: ‘Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M.J. 1992 onwards. The families of flowering plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 25th April 2024. delta-intkey.com’.
