Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae, a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Orchids are cosmopolitan plants that are found in almost every habitat on Earth except glaciers. The world's richest diversity of orchid genera and species is found in the tropics.
The Pleurothallidinae are a neotropical subtribe of plants of the orchid family (Orchidaceae) including 29 genera in more than 4000 species.
Cypripedioideae is a subfamily of orchids commonly known as lady's slipper orchids, lady slipper orchids or slipper orchids. Cypripedioideae includes the genera Cypripedium, Mexipedium, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium and Selenipedium. They are characterised by the slipper-shaped pouches of the flowers – the pouch traps insects so they are forced to climb up past the staminode, behind which they collect or deposit pollinia, thus fertilizing the flower. There are approximately 165 species in the subfamily.
The taxonomy of the Orchidaceae (orchid family) has evolved slowly during the last 250 years, starting with Carl Linnaeus who in 1753 recognized eight genera. De Jussieu recognized the Orchidaceae as a separate family in his Genera Plantarum in 1789. Olof Swartz recognized 25 genera in 1800. Louis Claude Richard provided us in 1817 with the descriptive terminology of the orchids. (See External links below). The next step was taken in 1830-1840 by John Lindley, who recognized four subfamilies. He is generally recognized as the father of orchid taxonomy. The next important step was taken by George Bentham with a new classification, recognizing subtribes for the first time. This classification was first presented in a paper that Bentham read to the Royal Society in 1881. Then it was published in 1883 in the final volume of Genera Plantarum. The next great contributors were Pfitzer (1887), Schlechter (1926), Mansfeld (1937), Dressler and Dodson (1960), Garay (1960, 1972), Vermeulen (1966), again Dressler (1981). and Burns-Balogh and Funk (1986). Dressler's 1993 book had considerable influence on later work.
Epidendroideae is a subfamily of plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Epidendroideae is larger than all the other orchid subfamilies together, comprising more than 15,000 species in 576 genera. Most epidendroid orchids are tropical epiphytes, typically with pseudobulbs. There are, however, some terrestrials such as Epipactis and even a few myco-heterotrophs, which are parasitic upon mycorrhizal fungi.
The Vandeae is a large monophyletic tribe within the family of orchids.
Bipinnula is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It is native to South America.
Caucaea is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It contains 9 currently recognized species, all native to northwestern South America.
Chamorchis is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It contains only one known species, Chamorchis alpina, known as the alpine dwarf orchid, false orchid or false musk orchid, and found in subarctic and subalpine parts of Europe: Scandinavia, the Alps, the Carpathians, northern European Russia.
Cuitlauzina is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It contains 8 recognized species, native to Mexico, Central America and Colombia.
Cypholoron is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It contains only two known species, both native to South America.
Degranvillea is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. At the present time, there is only one known species, Degranvillea dermaptera, endemic to French Guiana
Erycina is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Its species are native to Mexico, Central America, South America and Trinidad.
- Erycina crista-galli(Rchb.f.) N.H.Williams & M.W.Chase
- Erycina echinata(Kunth) Lindl.
- Erycina glossomystax(Rchb.f.) N.H.Williams & M.W.Chase
- Erycina hyalinobulbon(Lex.) N.H.Williams & M.W.Chase
- Erycina pumilio(Rchb.f.) N.H.Williams & M.W.Chase
- Erycina pusilla(L.) N.H.Williams & M.W.Chase
- Erycina zamorensis(Dodson) N.H.Williams & M.W.Chase
Ionopsis is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It contains 6 currently accepted species, native to Latin America, the West Indies, and Florida.
- Ionopsis burchelliiRchb.f. - Brazil
- Ionopsis minutiflora(Dodson & N.H.Williams) Pupulin - Ecuador
- Ionopsis papillosaPupulin - Ecuador
- Ionopsis satyrioides(Sw.) Rchb.f. in W.G.Walpers - widespread across southern Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and South America
- Ionopsis utricularioides(Sw.) Lindl. - widespread across southern Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, South America, and Florida
- Ionopsis zebrinaKraenzl. - Colombia
Jacquiniella is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It is native to Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and South America.
Nohawilliamsia is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Only one species is recognized as of June 2014, Nohawilliamsia pirarensis, native to northern South America.
Pachyplectron is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. The genus contains three species, all endemic to New Caledonia. The genus is related to Odontochilus.
Rossioglossum is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It has 9 currently recognized species, all native to Mexico, Central America, and northern and western South America.
Sutrina is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. The genus contains only two known species, both endemic to South America.
Dendrobieae is a tribe in the subfamily Epidendroideae, in the family Orchidaceae. The Dendrobieae are mostly tropical, epiphytic orchids which contain pseudobulbs.
