Orchidaceae -- the orchid family (835/20,000-30,000; mostly tropics but also in temperate latitudes)
Habit herbs, terrestrial, often epiphytic ± succulence: stems often modified into fleshy pseudobulbs; adventitious roots
Leaves alternate or all basal (opposite, whorled); simple; leaf bases with distinctive closed sheath surrounding stem; parallel venation
Inflorescences spikes, racemes, panicles, or flowers solitary
Special floral characters flowers highly zygomorphic, flower is turned upside down (resupinate) as it develops so the labellum is on the bottom
Calyx 3 sepals distinct or connate; often petaloid
Corolla 3 petals distinct or connate, with the third petal (lip or labellum) usually elaborated in some way
Androecium 1 or 2 (3) stamens, adnate to stigma and style forming a column; anther(s) with pollinia, pollinia covered by cap-like rostellum
Gynoecium 3 carpels, connate; inferior with 1 locule with many many extremely teeny tiny parietal ovules (rarely 3 locules and many many extremely teeny tiny axile ovules); style 1, massive, adnate to androecium forming column, stigmatic surfaces variously positioned
Fruit= capsule with tiny, nonendospermous seeds
(Floral formula: Ca 3 Co 3 A 1-2 G 3 )