orchid family

orchid family

n. A large family of epiphytic or terrestrial perennial plants, the Orchidaceae, found chiefly in the tropics and subtropics and characterized by bilaterally symmetrical, showy flowers often highly specialized to attract pollinators, and minute seeds.

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Noun

1.

orchid family - enormous cosmopolitan family of perennial terrestrial or epiphytic plants with fleshy tubers or rootstocks and unusual flowersfamily Orchidaceae, Orchidaceaeliliopsid family, monocot family - family of flowering plants having a single cotyledon (embryonic leaf) in the seedOrchidales, order Orchidales - order of plants with irregular flowers having minute seeds: Orchidaceae; Burmanniaceaeorchid, orchidaceous plant - any of numerous plants of the orchid family usually having flowers of unusual shapes and beautiful colorsgenus Orchis - type genus of the orchid family; hardy terrestrial orchids of the temperate the northern hemispheregenus Aerides - epiphytic orchids of tropical Asia having stiff leaves and fragrant white flowers in arching racemesAngraecum, genus Angraecum, genus Angrecum - genus of tropical Old World epiphytic orchids with showy flowers sometimes grotesqueAnoectochilus, genus Anoectochilus - genus of delicate Asiatic orchidsAplectrum, genus Aplectrum - a monocotyledonous genus of the family Orchidaceaegenus Arethusa - genus of bog orchids of North America and Japangenus Bletia - genus of tropical American terrestrial orchids with large purple or pink flowersBletilla, genus Bletilla - small genus of chiefly east Asiatic hardy terrestrial orchids similar to genus Bletiagenus Brassavola - genus of tropical American epiphytic or lithophytic rhizomatous orchidsBrassia, 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 orchidsgenus Caladenia - terrestrial orchids of Australia to New Caledoniagenus Calanthe - large and widely distributed genus of terrestrial orchidsCalopogon, genus Calopogon - terrestrial orchids of North Americagenus Calypso - one species found throughout much of northern North America and EurasiaCatasetum, genus Catasetum - genus of tropical American orchids having showy male and female flowers usually on separate inflorescencesgenus Cattleya - large and highly valued genus of beautiful tropical American epiphytic or lithophytic orchids; the typical orchids; known in many varietiesCephalanthera, genus Cephalanthera - small genus of temperate Old World terrestrial orchidsCleistes, genus Cleistes - terrestrial orchids of North and South America having slender fibrous roots; allied to genus PogoniaCoeloglossum, genus Coeloglossum - terrestrial orchids of cooler parts of North America and Europe: satyr orchidgenus Coelogyne - large diverse genus of tropical Asiatic epiphytic orchidsCorallorhiza, genus Corallorhiza - genus of leafless root-parasitic orchids having small purplish or yellowish racemose flowers with lobed lips; widely distributed in temperate regionsCoryanthes, genus Coryanthes - small genus of tropical American epiphytic or lithophytic orchidsCycnoches, genus Cycnoches - genus of epiphytic or terrestrial tropical American orchidsgenus Cymbidium - genus of tropical epiphytic or terrestrial Old World orchids; one of the most popular orchid generaCypripedium, genus Cypripedium - genus of chiefly American perennial leafy-stemmed orchids: lady's slippers; sometimes includes species of genus PaphiopedilumDactylorhiza, genus Dactylorhiza - genus of terrestrial orchids of Europe and Asia and North Africagenus Dendrobium - large genus and variable genus of chiefly epiphytic or lithophytic orchids of tropical and subtropical Asia and Australasiagenus Disa - genus of showy tropical African terrestrial orchidsDracula, 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 lipsDryadella, genus Dryadella - comprises tropical American species usually placed in genus Masdevallia: very dwarf plants having short tufted and usually unifoliate stems with usually solitary flowersEburophyton, genus Eburophyton - a monocotyledonous genus of the family OrchidaceaeEncyclia, genus Encyclia - large genus of epiphytic and lithophytic orchids of tropical and subtropical Americas and West Indies; formerly included in genus EpidendrumEpidendrum, genus Epidendrum - large and variable genus of terrestrial or epiphytic or lithophytic orchids of tropical and subtropical Americas; some native to United StatesEpipactis, genus Epipactis - genus of hardy orchids with leafy-bracted racemes of greenish or purplish irregular flowersgenus Glossodia, Glossodia - small genus of Australian orchidsgenus Goodyera, Goodyera - genus of small orchids of the northern hemisphere with creeping rhizomes and stalked ovate leaves and small flowers