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The largest and most diverse of
the flowering plant (Angiospermae) families, are the Orchids (Orchidaceae
family), with over 950 genera and 30,000 species found all over the
world. Although they are most abundant flowering plants in the tropics, new species
are continually being discovered.
Australia has about 100 genera, with more than 1,200 species.
The Taxonomy of the Orchid Family, is a story all on it’s own, with a
number of classification systems. It is the classification, published in
the book ‘The Orchids: Natural History and Classification’ that is
widely accepted by botanists and growers. This is based largely on the
system of Robert Louis Dressler, an orchid specialist and adjunct
curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History. The initial scheme of
1981 has been modified in 1986, twice in 1990, and then again in 1993.
This is the most comprehensive classification at the moment, relying
heavily on morphology and a few key characters, such as anther
configuration and pollinarium structure.
The orchid family (Orchidaceae) is subdivided into several subfamilies,
and then into tribes, subtribes, alliances and then genera.
According to Dressler, there are 5 subfamilies, 22 tribes, 70 subtribes,
about 850 genera and 20,000 species in this family. |
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Scientific
Classification |
| Kingdom: |
Plantae |
| Division: |
Magnoliophyta |
| Class: |
Liliopsida |
| Order: |
Asparagales |
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| Family: |
Orchidaceae |
| Subfamilies: |
Apostasioideae |
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Cypripedioideae |
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Epidendroideae |
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Orchidoidea |
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Vanilloideae |
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Orchids •
Images |
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Tiny Caladenia (Caladenia pusilla) |
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Flying Duck Orchid (Caleana major) |
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Wax-lip Orchid (Glossodia major) |
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