Orchidaceae, Orchid family, 
Kerbs, sometimes saprophytic and non-reen, commonly with rootstocks 
or fleshy tuberlike roots, Leaves various, commonly somewhat fleshy. 
Inflorescence mostly spicate or racemose in ours, occasionally solitary, 
Flowers strongly irregular§ perianth segments 6, frequently 5 due to 
coalescence of parts, commonly differentiated into sepals and petals, 
all however more or less petsloid. Of the inner series, one, termed 
the lip, differs from the rest in shape and is sometimes vrolonged 
backwards at the base into a spur} The lip is really the postertor pepper td” 
petal, but by the half twist of the pedicel or ovary it is more commonly 
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directed downward and becomes a parently esteriar, At the base of the 
lip, in the axis of the flower is the column (Byyantejuh\ composed of a 
™~ 4 
single fertile stamen (in Cypripedium of two stamens and the rudiment of 
a third), variously coalescent with the style. Anther 2-chambered, each 
chamber containing one or more masses of pollen (pollinia), or the 
pollen granular (Cypripedium), Fruit a 1-chambered, 3-valved capsule. 
from an inferior ovary, commonly ribbed, often twisted Spirally. Seeds 
very minute and numerous. 
© Plants saprophytic, white, yellowish or purple} leaves 
4 scale-like, without chlorophyll 
“7. Plants pure whites; stem from a branching rootstock 4 “burophyton 
2 Plants purple or yvreenish yellow; stems from ccral-like 
» masses of root 2 Corallorhiza 
© Plants not saproovhytic, leaves green 
Leaf solitary, basal; flower solitary 3 Calynso 
Leaves c-many, or if one only, flowers numcrous 
, Flowers 1-3 or more, often solitary, showy, the 
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