ORCHIDACEAE - Orchid Family

Herbaceous perennials, terrestrial, epiphytic or saprophytic

Leaves opposite, simple, sometimes reduced

Flowers bisexual, highly zygomorphic, often showy but sometimes small, some fusion of androecium and gynoecium

Two temperate
terrestrial orchids

Economic uses: vanilla, ornamentals

Many genera have flowers that are highly modified for insect pollination

Orchids are valued for their beautiful and long-lasting flowers

1000 genera, 15,000 to 20,000 species

The Orchidaceae is the 2nd largest family of flowering plants, most taxa are in the tropics

Diagnostic characteristics: Herbaceous perennials, 2-ranked leaves, flowers showy, 3-merous, zygomorphic

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