Information AboutEpidendroideae |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT EPIDENDROIDEAE | |
| orchids | |
The Epidendroideae, or epidendroid Orchid s, are a Subfamily of the orchid family ( Orchidaceae ). The former subfamily Vandoideae has become a specialised Clade within a more broadly defined Epidendroideae. This is the largest subfamily, larger than all the other orchid subfamilies together. It comprises more than 15,000 Species in 576 genera. Most are tropical Epiphyte s (usually with Pseudobulb s), but some are Terrestrial s and even a few Saprophyte s. Several genera live in a Symbiotic relationship with Micorrhyza , with the Fungi supplying the Plant with water and Nutrient s and receiving in exchange Carbohydrate s. They typically contain the remaining orchids with a single, fertile Anther ( = monandrous), which is also fully incumbent(= strongly convex) to suberect (= ascending towards the edges). The anther form arises from Column elongation or, as in the vandoids, from early anther bending. The incumbent anther forms a right angle with the column axis or is pointed backward in many genera. Most have hard Pollinia , i.e. a mass of waxy Pollen or of coherent pollen grains. The pollinia are with Caudicle and Viscidium or without. The Stigma are entire or 3-lobed; a Beak is present. The apical part of the muiddle stigma lobe forms a Stipe ( = pollinium stalk). The Ovary is 1-locular. The Leaves are distichous or spiraling, growing on thickened Stems . The Epidendroideae are difficult to classify. They have been divided in “lower epidendroids” and “higher epidendroids”. The lower epidendroids are Paraphyletic and contain the following tribes:
The higher epidendroids are partly Monophyletic and partly Polyphyletic (tribes Arethuseae and Epidendreae ).
This classification has a rather ephemeral nature. Changes are likely to occur as new data become known. EXTERNAL LINKS
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