Spermatophyta: Monocotyledonae: Asparagales

Orchidaceae - Orchid family

Ball, J.S. (1978) Southern African Epiphytic Orchids. Conservation Press, Johannesburg.

Ball, J.S. (2009) Terrestrial African Orchids, A Selected Review.

Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993) Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 47-71

La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995) Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1)

La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1998) Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 11(2)

La Croix, I. et al. (1991) Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam

McMurtry, D., Grobler, L., Grobler, J. & Burns, S. (2008) Field Guide to the ORCHIDS of Northern South Africa and Swaziland Umdaus Press, PO Box 11059 Hatfield 0028 South Africa

Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1976) A Provisional Checklist of the Orchidaceae of Mozambique South African Journal of Botany 42(4)

Description of the family

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.

DRC: 45 genera and 179 taxa.

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Links to genera:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

GenusContent
Aerangis Rchb. f.Description
Ancistrorhynchus FinetDescription
Angraecopsis Kraenzl.Description
Angraecum BoryDescription
Ansellia Lindl.Description
Bolusiella Schltr.Description
Bonatea Willd.Description
Brachycorythis Lindl.Description
Bulbophyllum ThouarsDescription
Calanthe R.Br.Description
Calyptrochilum Kraenzl.Description
Chamaeangis Schltr.Description
Cheirostylis BlumeDescription
Cribbia SenghasDescription
Cynorkis ThouarsDescription
Cyrtorchis Schltr.Description
Diaphananthe Schltr.Description
Disa P.J. BergiusDescription
Disperis Sw.Description
Eggelingia Summerh.Description
Epipogium Borkh.Description
Eulophia Lindl.Description, Image
Graphorkis ThouarsDescription
Habenaria Willd.Description
Hetaeria Blume
Holothrix Lindl.Description
Kylicanthe Descourv., Stévart & Droissart
Liparis Rich.Description
Malaxis Sol. ex Sw.Description
Microcoelia Lindl.Description
Nephrangis Summerh.Description
Nervilia Comm. ex Gaudich.Description
Oeceoclades Lindl.Description
Orthochilus Hochst. ex A. Rich.
Platycoryne Rchb. f.Description
Platylepis A. RichDescription
Podangis Schltr.
Polystachya Hook.Description
Rangaeris Summerh.Description
Rhipidoglossum Schltr.
Satyrium Sw.Description
Solenangis Schltr.Description
Stolzia Schltr.Description
Triceratorhynchus Summerh.
Tridactyle Schltr.Description

Other sources of information about Orchidaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Orchidaceae
Flora of Burundi: Orchidaceae
Flora of Caprivi: Orchidaceae
Flora of Malawi: Orchidaceae
Flora of Mozambique: Orchidaceae
Flora of Rwanda: Orchidaceae
Flora of Zambia: Orchidaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Orchidaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Orchidaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Orchidaceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Orchidaceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Orchidaceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Orchidaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Orchidaceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Orchidaceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Orchidaceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Orchidaceae
Wikipedia: Orchidaceae
Plants of the World Online: Orchidaceae
Tropicos: Orchidaceae





Flora of the Democratic Republic of Congo: Family page: Orchidaceae.
https://www.drcongoflora.com/speciesdata/family.php?family_id=161, retrieved 11 October 2024

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