The taxonomy of the Orchidaceae 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.. 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, Vermeulen (1966), again Dressler (1981). and Burns-Balogh and Funk (1986). Dressler's 1993 book had considerable influence on later work.
Cleistes is a genus of orchids. It contains approximately 40–50 species, most of them native to South America, with a few species extending north into Costa Rica and Trinidad. Two North American species were formerly included in this group, but are now regarded as a separate genus, Cleistesiopsis.
Moehringia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae. Members of this genus and of some other genera in Caryophyllaceae are commonly called sandworts.They are found only in the north temperate zone. The genus Moehringia was first formally named by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It is named after Paul Möhring (1710–1791).
Comparettia, abbreviated Comp in the horticultural trade, is a genus of orchids. It consists about 50-70 species, native to tropical America. They occur in Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and in northern South America as far south as Brazil and Bolivia, although they are particularly common in the Andes. The genus has grown markedly in recent years due to many species being transferred from other genera.
Psychopsis, abbreviated Psychp. in horticultural trade, is a genus of four known species of orchids native to northern South America, Central America and Trinidad.
Cremastra is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It contains 4 currently recognized species, native to China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, the Himalayas, and the Russian Far East.
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
Dichromanthus is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. As currently delimited, it is monophyletic and includes four species:
- Dichromanthus aurantiacus(Lex.) Salazar & Soto Arenas - much of Mexico, south to Honduras
- Dichromanthus cinnabarinus(Lex.) Garay - from Texas to Guatemala
- Dichromanthus michuacanus(Lex.) Salazar & Soto Arenas - from Texas and Arizona south to Honduras
- Dichromanthus yucundaaSalazar & García-Mend. - Oaxaca
Dickasonia is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. There is only one known species, Dickasonia vernicosa, which is native to the Himalayas from Darjeeling, through Bhutan and Assam to Myanmar.
Eriopsis is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Its species are native to South America and Central America.
- Eriopsis bilobaLindl.
- Eriopsis grandibulbosaAmes & C.Schweinf.
- Eriopsis mesaeKraenzl.
- Eriopsis rutidobulbonHook.
- Eriopsis sceptrumRchb.f. & Warsz.
Gomesa is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It contains about 80–100 species, all native to South America.
Grosourdya is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It contains 11 known species, native to Southeast Asia.
- Grosourdya appendiculata(Blume) Rchb.f. - widespread from Hainan to the Andaman Islands to the Philippines and Maluku
- Grosourdya bicornutaJ.J.Wood & A.L.Lamb - Sabah
- Grosourdya calliferaSeidenf. - Thailand
- Grosourdya incurvicalcar(J.J.Sm.) Garay - Java, Peninsular Malaysia, Sulawesi
- Grosourdya minutiflora(Ridl.) Garay - Pahang
- Grosourdya muscosa(Rolfe) Garay - Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Andaman Islands
- Grosourdya pulvinifera(Schltr.) Garay - Sabah, Sulawesi
- Grosourdya quinquelobata(Schltr.) Garay - Sulawesi
- Grosourdya tripercus(Ames) Garay - Leyte
- Grosourdya urunensisJ.J.Wood, C.L.Chan & A.L.Lamb - Sabah
- Grosourdya zollingeri(Rchb.f.) Rchb.f. - Java, Maluku
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.
Telipogon is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It is a large genus with dozens of species, native to South America, Central America, Hispaniola and southern Mexico.
Pelexia is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It has about 60-70 accepted species, native to Latin America, the West Indies and Florida.
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.
- Rossioglossum ampliatum(Lindl.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams - from Guatemala to Venezuela and Peru
- Rossioglossum grande(Lindl.) Garay & G.C.Kenn. - Chiapas, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica
- Rossioglossum hagsaterianumSoto Arenas - Nayarit, Jalisco
- Rossioglossum insleayi(Baker ex Lindl.) Garay & G.C.Kenn. - from Jalisco to Oaxaca
- Rossioglossum krameri(Rchb.f.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams - Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama
- Rossioglossum oerstedii(Rchb.f.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams - Costa Rica, Panama
- Rossioglossum schlieperianum(Rchb.f.) Garay & G.C.Kenn. - Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama
- Rossioglossum splendens(Rchb.f.) Garay & G.C.Kenn. - Oaxaca
- Rossioglossum williamsianum(Rchb.f.) Garay & G.C.Kenn - Chiapas, Guatemala, Honduras
Stenorrhynchos is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It is native to Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and northern South America.
Dendrobieae is a tribe in the subfamily Epidendroideae, in the family Orchidaceae.
Cranichis muscosa, the cypress-knee helmet orchid, is a species of terrestrial orchid. It is widespread across most of the West Indies, extending into Central America, southern Mexico, northern South America, and southern Florida.
