orchid family

orchid family

n.

A large family of epiphytic or terrestrial perennial herbs, the Orchidaceae, found chiefly in the tropics and subtropics and characterized by bilaterally symmetrical, showy flowers with an inferior ovary and dustlike seeds.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

orchid family - enormous cosmopolitan family of perennial terrestrial or epiphytic plants with fleshy tubers or rootstocks and unusual flowers family Orchidaceae, Orchidaceae liliopsid family, monocot family - family of flowering plants having a single cotyledon (embryonic leaf) in the seed Orchidales, order Orchidales - order of plants with irregular flowers having minute seeds: Orchidaceae; Burmanniaceae orchid, orchidaceous plant - any of numerous plants of the orchid family usually having flowers of unusual shapes and beautiful colors genus Orchis - type genus of the orchid family; hardy terrestrial orchids of the temperate the northern hemisphere genus Aerides - epiphytic orchids of tropical Asia having stiff leaves and fragrant white flowers in arching racemes Angraecum, genus Angraecum, genus Angrecum - genus of tropical Old World epiphytic orchids with showy flowers sometimes grotesque Anoectochilus, genus Anoectochilus - genus of delicate Asiatic orchids Aplectrum, genus Aplectrum - a monocotyledonous genus of the family Orchidaceae genus Arethusa - genus of bog orchids of North America and Japan genus Bletia - genus of tropical American terrestrial orchids with large purple or pink flowers Bletilla, genus Bletilla - small genus of chiefly east Asiatic hardy terrestrial orchids similar to genus Bletia genus Brassavola - genus of tropical American epiphytic or lithophytic rhizomatous orchids Brassia, genus Brassia - genus of tropical American epiphytic orchids having striking axillary racemes of yellow to green spiderlike flowers with long slender sepals and warty lips: spider orchids genus Caladenia - terrestrial orchids of Australia to New Caledonia genus Calanthe - large and widely distributed genus of terrestrial orchids Calopogon, genus Calopogon - terrestrial orchids of North America genus Calypso - one species found throughout much of northern North America and Eurasia Catasetum, genus Catasetum - genus of tropical American orchids having showy male and female flowers usually on separate inflorescences genus Cattleya - large and highly valued genus of beautiful tropical American epiphytic or lithophytic orchids; the typical orchids; known in many varieties Cephalanthera, genus Cephalanthera - small genus of temperate Old World terrestrial orchids Cleistes, genus Cleistes - terrestrial orchids of North and South America having slender fibrous roots; allied to genus Pogonia Coeloglossum, genus Coeloglossum - terrestrial orchids of cooler parts of North America and Europe: satyr orchid genus Coelogyne - large diverse genus of tropical Asiatic epiphytic orchids Corallorhiza, genus Corallorhiza - genus of leafless root-parasitic orchids having small purplish or yellowish racemose flowers with lobed lips; widely distributed in temperate regions Coryanthes, genus Coryanthes - small genus of tropical American epiphytic or lithophytic orchids Cycnoches, genus Cycnoches - genus of epiphytic or terrestrial tropical American orchids genus Cymbidium - genus of tropical epiphytic or terrestrial Old World orchids; one of the most popular orchid genera Cypripedium, genus Cypripedium - genus of chiefly American perennial leafy-stemmed orchids: lady's slippers; sometimes includes species of genus Paphiopedilum Dactylorhiza, genus Dactylorhiza - genus of terrestrial orchids of Europe and Asia and North Africa genus Dendrobium - large genus and variable genus of chiefly epiphytic or lithophytic orchids of tropical and subtropical Asia and Australasia genus Disa - genus of showy tropical African terrestrial orchids Dracula, genus Dracula - comprises tropical American species usually placed in genus Masdevallia: diminutive plants having bizarre and often sinister-looking flowers with pendulous scapes and motile lips Dryadella, genus Dryadella - comprises tropical American species usually placed in genus Masdevallia: very dwarf plants having short tufted and usually unifoliate stems with usually solitary flowers Eburophyton, genus Eburophyton - a monocotyledonous genus of the family Orchidaceae Encyclia, genus Encyclia - large genus of epiphytic and lithophytic orchids of tropical and subtropical Americas and West Indies; formerly included in genus Epidendrum