Terrestrial or epiphytical herbs, or occasionally vines, occasionally mycoparasitic
Distribution
Widely distributed, but mostly diverse in tropical regions (where frequently epiphytic)
Floral characters
inflorescences indeterminate, sometimes reduced to a single flower, terminal or axillary flowers bisexual, bilateral, usually resupinate (twisted 180° during development) sepals: 3, distinct to connate petals: 3, distinct, the median petals forming a lip (labellum), two lateral petals often similar to sepals stamens: usually 1, adnate to style and stigma forming a column carpels: 3, connate, ovary inferior
Leaf characters
usually alternate, often plicate, basal along the stem, sometimes reduced, simple, entire, with usually parallel venation, sheathing at base;
Stipules
absent
Fruit characters
capsule
Glands
present
Hairs
absent or present
Latex
absent
Uses
Vanilla planifolia (Vanilla) ornamentals: spp or hybrids of Arachis, Cattleya, Cymbidium, Epidendrum, Miltonia, Odontoglossum, Oncidium, Paphiopedilum, Vanda, Phalaenopsis, .....
Chemical characters
always with raphides (a form of calciumoxalat) in some cells, often with muciage-cells and alkaloids
Distribution maps
(online von http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/ . Dort zitiert wie unter jedem Diagramm vermerkt):
Apostasioideae (Orchidaceae)
map: from Pridgeon et al. 1999
Cypripedioideae (Orchidaceae)
map: from Hultén 1958; Pridgeon et al. 1999
Epidendroideae (Orchidaceae)
map: from Pridgeon et al. 2005
Vanilloideae (Orchidaceae)
map: from Pridgeon et al. 2003
Orchidoideae (Orchidaceae)
map: from Pridgeon et al. 2001, 2003; distribution in N. Asia and N. North America unclear
