Vegetative key to the families
Vegetative Key Vegetative key to the families
LEAVES REDUCED TO SCALES ON THE AERIAL STEMS
Saprophytic herbs (one a climber) usually without chlorophyll Orchidaceae
Plants epiphytic on trees, logs, rocks
Leaves linear, many times longer than broad
Leaves not basal, terete Dendrobium
Leaves long, terete succulent circular in cross section or ± flattened. Flowers not resupinate (i.e. labellum uppermost in flower)
Leaves not terete thin to leathery, conduplicate, Stems swollen for at least part of their length. Flowers usually resupinate ie labellum lower most in flower