Orchid Information - Family Orchidaceae Subfamily Orchidoideae Tribe Cranichideae

Cranichideae (Lindl.) Endl., Man. Bot. Suppl., 2, 18 (1842). Type genus: Cranichis Sw.

Synonyms:

Terrestrials or lithophytes, herbaceous rarely epiphytes. Roots fleshy, in tufts or apart. Rhizome thick fleshy, or in subtribe Pterostylidinae with tubers. Leaves convolute, not plicate, fleshy, spirally arranged along the stem or a rosette in subtribe Pterostylidinae Inflorescence terminal, erect, 1- to many-flowered, often pubescent or glandular; floral bracts persistent. Flowers resupinate, rarely not, usually small, often more or less tubular and not opening widely. Ovary twisted or not. Sepals usually rather simila. Lateral sepals often somewhat oblique at the base, in some Pterostylidinae at the base fused. Petals usually thinner than the petals, often adnate to the Median sepal forming a hood. Lip mobile or not, entire, 2- or 3-lobed; at the base entire, saccate or spurred; spur free or more or less adnate to the ovary, often inside at the base with papillae or other appendcages. Columm short and massive to elongate; column foot present or absent; stigma entire or 2-partite, ovate or elliptic, concave or flat; rostellum elongate, in many species beak-like, with acute or truncate apex; viscidium with 1 to several cell layers; tegula (if present) a lamella; some genera with a fleshy hamulus; anther with a short filament, erect, cordate to oblong-cordate, 2-locular; pollinia 2 or 4, narrowed toward the base, powdery and sectile or firm; staminodes wing-like, thin or relatively thick, fused with the filament and margins of the stigma, forming a distinct dorsal clinandrium.
(after Cribb 2003)

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