ORCHIDEAE. 
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— 
Herss, sometimes scandent, (rarely shrubs), terrestrial with tuberous or fibrous 
roots, or epiphytic with aerial roots, with or without pseudo-bulbs, leafy or aphyllous. 
Perianth superior, irregular, in two whorls; the outer (sepals) usually sub-similar ; 
the inner (petals) dissimilar, the odd one or lip variously shaped, often spurred. 
Stamens and pistils united into a column opposite the lip. Anthers solitary 
and perfect; or two each with one perfect and one imperfect сей or staminode 
(Ophrydeae); or both perfect (Cypripedieae); 2- to 4-celled; pollen-grains usually 
cohering into one two or four pairs of oblong, globose or pyriform, sessile or 
caudiculate masses (pollinia), the caudicles when present free or attached to one 
or two glands. Perfect stigma solitary, entire or bifid; or two, approximate or 
distant. Apex of column usually modified into a rostellum. Ovary inferior, usually 
‘half-twisted, sometimes completely twisted. Fruit capsular, 1-celled. Seeds very 
numerous, minute, with lax testa and homogeneous nucleus. A widely distributed 
family consisting of probably about 7,500 species. 
