Orchidaceae – Orchid family
The orchid family, Orchidaceae, consists of 788 genera and 18500 species.
Perennial, terrestrial or epiphytic herbs with rhizomes, tubers or corms. Stems sometimes swollen at the base (pseudobulbs). Leaves alternate or rarely opposite (e.g. some spp. of Disperis), entire. Inflorescence a spike, raceme or panicle. Flowers bracteate, bisexual, zygomorphic, usually twisted through 180° (resupinate), occasionally not twisted or twisted through 360°. Perianth epigynous; perianth segments 6, usually free, arranged in 2 whorls; both whorls similar or outer whorl (sepals) calyx-like and inner whorl (petals) corolla-like or very reduced. Central segment of outer whorl (dorsal sepal) often different in shape and size to the lateral; central segment of inner whorl (lip or labellum) often lobed or spurred. Stamen 1, united with the style to form the column. Pollen aggregated into masses (pollinia). Ovary inferior, 1-locular. Stigmas 3, fertile or more usually 2 lateral fertile, the other an outgrowth (rostellum), lying between the anthers and the lateral stigmas. Part of the rostellum is often modified into sticky discs (viscidia) to which the pollinia are attached by 1-2 stalks (stipes). Whole structure of pollinia, stipes and viscidia form the pollinarium. Fruit a capsule, often longitudinally ribbed. Seeds minute, very numerous, without endosperm.
Worldwide:
788 genera and 18,500 species, cosmopolitan.
Zimbabwe:
56 genera and 356 taxa.
- Acampe Lindl.
- Aerangis Rchb. f.
- Aeranthes Lindl.
- Angraecopsis Kraenzl.
- Angraecum Bory
- Ansellia Lindl.
- Benthamia A. Rich.
- Bolusiella Schltr.
- Bonatea Willd.
- Brachycorythis Lindl.
- Brownleea Lindl.
- Bulbophyllum Thouars
- Calanthe R.Br.
- Calyptrochilum Kraenzl.
- Centrostigma Schltr.
- Chaseella Summerh.
- Cheirostylis Blume
- Corymborkis Thouars
- Cynorkis Thouars
- Cyrtorchis Schltr.
- Dendrobianthe (Schltr.) Mytnik
- Diaphananthe Schltr.
- Didymoplexis Griff.
- Disa P.J. Bergius
- Disperis Sw.
- Eulophia Lindl.
- Gastrodia R. Br.
- Habenaria Willd.
- Holothrix Lindl.
- Isochilostachya Mytnik & Szlach.
- Jumellea Schltr.
- Liparis Rich.
- Malaxis Sol. ex Sw.
- Microcoelia Lindl.
- Mystacidium Lindl.
- Neobolusia Schltr.
- Nervilia Comm. ex Gaudich.
- Oberonia Lindl.
- Oeceoclades Lindl.
- Orthochilus Hochst. ex A. Rich.
- Phaius Lour.
- Platycoryne Rchb. f.
- Platylepis A. Rich
- Polystachya Hook.
- Rangaeris Summerh.
- Satyrium Sw.
- Schizochilus Sond.
- Solenangis Schltr.
- Stenoglottis Lindl.
- Stolzia Schltr.
- Summerhayesia P.J. Cribb
- Taeniophyllum Blume
- Tridactyle Schltr.
- Vanilla Mill.
- Ypsilopus Summerh.
- Zeuxine Lindl.
