Orchidaceae

Orchis, from the Greek word for testicle, a reference to the shape of the tubers. Terrestrial or epiphytic herbs, sometimes climbing or scrambling, may have swollen stem – pseudobulbs- as well as conventional tubers etc. Leaves alternate rarely opposite, distichous, simple, size variable. Flowers usually bisexual and often highly modified, pollen usually in pollinia. Carpels 3, ovary inferior; fruit a capsule with numerous dust-like seeds.