Common Names in English: Herbs or rarely vines , rarely annual ,
strongly mycotrophic, epiphytic, terrestrial , lithophytic, or
rarely aquatic , usually green and photosynthetic, some without
chlorophyll and saprophytic subterranean or aerial or stolonoid,
usually with spongy , multilayered velamen. Stems erect or
pendent or modified into creeping or sympodially or monopodially
branched, delicate to stout, or thickened as corms or
pseudobulbs , or greatly reduced, sometimes proliferous
(especially diverse in sympodial orchids) . Leaves solitary,
several, or reduced to scales , basal or cauline, alternate,
distichous, or sometimes opposite or whorled , either convolute
or duplicate , simple, sessile or petiolate ; stipules absent;
blade or not, plicate , triangular, or laterally flattened,
margins entire. Inflorescences terminal , spikes, panicles, or
rarely cymose , erect or variously pendent, 1 many-flowered, lax
or dense, flowering successively or simultaneously. Flowers
bisexual , resupinate or not, pedice