Spermatophyta: Monocotyledonae: Asparagales

Orchidaceae - Orchid family

Ball, J.S. (1978) Southern African Epiphytic Orchids. Conservation Press, Johannesburg.

Ball, J.S. (2009) Terrestrial African Orchids, A Selected Review.

Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993) Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 47-71

La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995) Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1)

La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1998) Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 11(2)

La Croix, I. et al. (1991) Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam

McMurtry, D., Grobler, L., Grobler, J. & Burns, S. (2008) Field Guide to the ORCHIDS of Northern South Africa and Swaziland Umdaus Press, PO Box 11059 Hatfield 0028 South Africa

Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1976) A Provisional Checklist of the Orchidaceae of Mozambique South African Journal of Botany 42(4)

Description of the family

Perennial, terrestrial or epiphytic herbs with rhizomes, tubers or corms. Stems sometimes swollen at the base (pseudobulbs). Leaves alternate or rarely opposite (e.g. some spp. of Disperis), entire. Inflorescence a spike, raceme or panicle. Flowers bracteate, bisexual, zygomorphic, usually twisted through 180° (resupinate), occasionally not twisted or twisted through 360°. Perianth epigynous; perianth segments 6, usually free, arranged in 2 whorls; both whorls similar or outer whorl (sepals) calyx-like and inner whorl (petals) corolla-like or very reduced. Central segment of outer whorl (dorsal sepal) often different in shape and size to the lateral; central segment of inner whorl (lip or labellum) often lobed or spurred. Stamen 1, united with the style to form the column. Pollen aggregated into masses (pollinia). Ovary inferior, 1-locular. Stigmas 3, fertile or more usually 2 lateral fertile, the other an outgrowth (rostellum), lying between the anthers and the lateral stigmas. Part of the rostellum is often modified into sticky discs (viscidia) to which the pollinia are attached by 1-2 stalks (stipes). Whole structure of pollinia, stipes and viscidia form the pollinarium. Fruit a capsule, often longitudinally ribbed. Seeds minute, very numerous, without endosperm.

Worldwide: 788 genera and 18,500 species, cosmopolitan.

Malawi: 57 genera and 420 taxa.

Disa erubescens subsp. erubescens

Links to genera:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

GenusContent
Acampe Lindl.Description, Image
Aerangis Rchb. f.Description
Ancistrorhynchus FinetDescription
Angraecopsis Kraenzl.Description, Image
Angraecum BoryDescription
Ansellia Lindl.Description, Image
Bolusiella Schltr.Description
Brachycorythis Lindl.Description
Brownleea Lindl.Description, Image
Bulbophyllum ThouarsDescription, Image
Calanthe R.Br.Description
Calyptrochilum Kraenzl.Description
Cardiochilos P.J. CribbDescription
Centrostigma Schltr.Description
Chamaeangis Schltr.Description
Corycium Sw.Description
Corymborkis ThouarsDescription, Image
Cynorkis ThouarsDescription, Image
Cyrtorchis Schltr.Description, Image
Diaphananthe Schltr.Description
Didymoplexis Griff.Description
Disa P.J. BergiusDescription, Image
Disperis Sw.Description, Image
Eggelingia Summerh.Description
Epipactis Zinn.Description
Epipogium Borkh.Description
Eulophia Lindl.Description
Gastrodia R. Br.Description, Image
Habenaria Willd.Description, Image
Holothrix Lindl.Description, Image
Jumellea Schltr.Description
Liparis Rich.Description, Image
Malaxis Sol. ex Sw.Description
Microcoelia Lindl.Description
Mystacidium Lindl.Description, Image
Neobolusia Schltr.Description
Nervilia Comm. ex Gaudich.Description
Oberonia Lindl.Description
Oeceoclades Lindl.Description
Orthochilus Hochst. ex A. Rich.Image
Phaius Lour.Description
Platycoryne Rchb. f.Description, Image
Platylepis A. RichDescription
Polystachya Hook.Description, Image
Rangaeris Summerh.Description, Image
Roeperocharis Rchb. f.Description, Image
Satyrium Sw.Description, Image
Schizochilus Sond.Description
Solenangis Schltr.Description
Stenoglottis Lindl.Description
Stolzia Schltr.Description, Image
Summerhayesia P.J. CribbDescription
Taeniophyllum BlumeDescription, Image
Tridactyle Schltr.Description
Vanilla Mill.Description
Ypsilopus Summerh.Description
Zeuxine Lindl.Description

Other sources of information about Orchidaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Orchidaceae
Flora of Caprivi: Orchidaceae
Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Orchidaceae
Flora of Mozambique: Orchidaceae
Flora of Zambia: Orchidaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Orchidaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Orchidaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Orchidaceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Orchidaceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Orchidaceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Orchidaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Orchidaceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Orchidaceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Orchidaceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Orchidaceae
Wikipedia: Orchidaceae
Plants of the World Online: Orchidaceae
Tropicos: Orchidaceae



Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Malawi: Family page: Orchidaceae.
https://www.malawiflora.com/speciesdata/family.php?family_id=161, retrieved 19 March 2024

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