Key to Orchidaceae

View taxon page for Orchidaceae

Jepson Manual glossary definitions can be seen by moving your cursor over words underlined with dots.

1. Functional stamens 2, staminodes 1 ..... CYPRIPEDIUM

1' Functional stamens 1, staminodes 0

2. Leaves 0 at flower

3. Flower spurred, without mentum ..... PIPERIA (2)

3' Flower not spurred, with mentum or not

4. Flowers in spiral, lip pouch-like ..... SPIRANTHES (2)

4' Flowers not in spiral, lip not pouch-like

5. Plant white, becoming ± yellow or brown ..... CEPHALANTHERA

5' Plant brown, tan, ± pink, ± red, ± purple (± green) ..... CORALLORHIZA

2' Leaves present at flower

6. Leaves cauline

7. Leaves 2, ± 

opposite 

1. Arranged in pairs along an axis - e.g., two leaves per node. 2. Occurring in the same rank, directly above or below, as 'stamens opposite petals'. 3. Located directly across from.

, ± at mid stem ..... LISTERA

7' Leaves > 2, 

alternate 

1. Arranged singly, often spirally, along an axis - e.g., one leaf per node. 2. Occurring in different ranks, appearing to be between, not directly above or below, as 'stamens alternate petals'.

, along stem

8. Leaves with > 1 lengthwise fold, green, white, or pink; flower not spurred ..... EPIPACTIS

8' Leaves with 1 lengthwise fold, green; flower spurred ..... PLATANTHERA

6' Leaves ± 

basal 

At or near the base of a plant or plant part. Especially said of leaves clustered near the ground or of a placenta confined to the base of an ovary.

9. Leaves 1(2)

10. Flowers 1, lip pouch-like ..... CALYPSO

10' Flowers > 1, lip not pouch-like ..... MALAXIS

9' Leaves > 1

11. Leaves in 

rosette 

A radiating cluster of leaves generally at or near ground level.

..... GOODYERA

11' Leaves not in rosette

12. Flowers not in spiral, spurred ..... PIPERIA (2)

12' Flowers in spiral, not spurred ..... SPIRANTHES (2)

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