Introduction to the Orchidaceae Family

Welcome to the Orchidaceae family! This is the largest plant family in the world, filled with countless beautiful and bizarre flowers. Long ago when I, and probably most people, thought of orchids, I always pictured the large tropical species that people grow in orchid clubs and you find at the garden stores.

But then, years ago, as I was learning about plant families, I was surprised by how many Orchidaceae lived in the cold Canadian north, like the always beautiful Calypso bulbosa of the Epidendroideae subfamily. Sure, the tropics, especially the neotropics, have more diversity, but you can find them literally almost everywhere, except Antarctica. That’s how common orchids really are!

Common Botanical Description of the Orchidaceae

If you’re new to plant morphology, this simple guide is a perfect beginner’s description for learning to identify the Orchidaceae family, with no need to know any complicated scientific jargon (but there’s plenty far below if you want some!).

Below this section, you will find additional information on uses and wildlife values, as well as morphology photos to help you identify the Orchidaceae family, followed by pictures of individual Orchidaceae species found in North America. But for researchers or those wanting to learn a more in-depth version, refer to the Scientific Botanical Description below the images for highly detailed scientific descriptions and genus-level distribution data.

Leaves and Stems of the Orchidaceae

Plants of the Orchidaceae are always perennial herbs, usually from some kind of storage root (rhizomes, tubers, corms, etc.) that come in a huge array of sometimes bizarre forms. They are often epiphytes living on trees in the rainforests but may be self-supporting or climbing (some Vanilloideae). They may have well-developed leaves, a single leaf, or no leaf at all, and instead rely on soil fungi for nutrients or occasionally use their stems for photosynthesis. When present, leaves are simple with entire margins (not toothed), of various shapes, and always have parallel veins. The leaves are evergreen or deciduous (especially Orchidoideae).

Flowers of the Orchidaceae

The Orchidaceae are almost always hermaphrodites, with male (stamens) and female (ovary, stigma, and style) parts in the same flower. The flowers usually make this enormous family easy to identify because of a unique feature called the labellum. The flowers are in parts of 3, with 2 whorls, which may be interpreted as tepals or petals and sepals when the outer whorl is green. However, the inner middle tepal/petal is modified, usually enlarged and of a different color, forming the labellum that is twisted as it develops so it appears on the bottom. It acts as a landing strip for pollinators, often with colors, bumps, and hairs that help guide them in. The labellum is also often spurred with a nectar spur and may be variously shaped, sometimes forming a bag or being lobed.

Reproductive Features of the Orchidaceae

All Orchidaceae have an ovary that is almost always inferior (attached below the point of tepal/petal attachment) and has 3 chambers (carpels). There is only 1 style and one stigma, which is usually 3-lobed, with the middle lobe modified to form a physical barrier that sits between the anther cap and the stigma to prevent self-pollination. The Orchidaceae have 3 male parts in their flowers, usually 1 fertile stamen and 2 infertile staminodes, that are almost always fused with the style to form a central column topped with the anther cap.

Fruits of the Orchidaceae

Fruits in the Orchidaceae are almost always dry capsules that split open when mature, releasing usually hundreds of seeds so tiny they are often referred to as ‘dust seeds’ because they are so light that they can be carried by the wind without needing a pappus or wings. This is because the seeds have no endosperm—the nutritious part of most seeds of flowering plants—making them especially light but also highly dependent on soil fungi for germination and growth.

Uses of Orchidaceae 

Many tropical Orchidaceae serve as ornamentals, and there are just far too many to list here. Many growers and enthusiasts around the world focus on orchids, including hundreds of orchid clubs and societies that grow rare orchids.

But please, if you collect and grow the Orchidaceae, buy from reputable collectors who propagate themselves, and please, NEVER harvest from the wild. Flowers should almost never be wild-collected, but especially orchids—they often depend on complex relationships with fungi and often do not survive transplanting! Illegal harvests and very high rates of endemism are just two of the many, many reasons this family contains more critically endangered plants than any other plant family in the world, by proportion, not number, since it’s also the largest family in the world!

Perfumers also frequently analyze the scents of many members of the Orchidaceae and use them for fragrance chemicals.

Ecosystem and Wildlife Values of Orchidaceae

Orchidaceae plants around the world are critical components of ecosystems, often seen as crucial environmental indicator species due to their dependence on specific mycorrhizal fungi for both germination and early development, as their tiny seeds lack endosperm and they rely on very specific pollinators to pollinate their flowers. This is why their decline is often considered an early warning sign for broader biodiversity loss, like what is happening all over the neotropics right now, with countless species disappearing before scientists can even properly describe them.

Many Orchidaceae are epiphytes that grow on trees without harming them. In fact, they create root networks that help the trees retain moisture and trap nutrients intercepted from rain and leaf litter. This creates microhabitats for countless invertebrates, some of which the orchids may be completely dependent on for their pollination and survival.

Morphology of Orchidaceae in North America

First, here is a grid showing some of the common plant and leaf forms, floral arrangements, and fruit types. Below we will dive into more on the unique Orchidaceae flowers.

Next, here are photos of the flowers themselves showing some of the unique floral features you will encounter in this beautifully bizzare plant family.

Some Species of Orchidaceae Found in North America

So far in North America, I have only had the privilege of documenting the Cypripedioideae, the Epidendroideae, and the Orchidoideae subfamilies. While I have not yet ‘discovered’ the Vanillioideae subfamily, it actually occurs as far north as Canada, and when I come across any members of that subfamily, I will be sure to add a pic!

Cypripedioideae Subfamily

Epidendroideae Subfamily

Orchidoideae Subfamily

Scientific Botanical Description of the Orchidaceae Family

Habit & Leaf Form of the Orchidaceae Family

The Orchidaceae is a family of perennial herbs from corms, rhizomes, tubers, or pseudobulbs with or without a basal aggregation of leaves. They come in a diverse array of forms that are often epiphytic but may be self-supporting terrestrials or climbing (many Vanilloideae). They may be normal herbs or switch plants (the principal photosynthesizing function is transferred to stems that may or may not be succulent (cactoid)) and may have only a single leaf or no leaves at all. They may also sometimes be achlorophyllous, or neotenic, or may even be entirely subterranean (Rhizanthella). Plants are helophytic, mesophytic, or xerophytic; they are autotrophic or parasitic but initially endomycorrhizal as a protocorm, usually subsequently becoming ectomycorrhizal mycoheterotrophs, and may or may not photosynthesize.

Leaves are persistent or deciduous (commonly Orchidoideae), small to large (sometimes absent), and are usually arranged in an alternate spiral or distichous pattern but may rarely be opposite or whorled. Leaves are flat, folded, rolled, or terete and may be herbaceous, leathery, fleshy, or membranous in texture. They are imbricate or not but are usually petiolate, except sometimes in Cypripedioideae, which may sometimes have sessile leaves. Leaves are always sheathing with tubular sheaths and have blades borne edgewise to the stem or normally oriented.

Orchidaceae leaves are always simple, often jointed at the base of the blade. The lamina is entire and linear, lanceolate, oblong, or ovate with parallel veins and usually cross-venulate. The lamina may be auriculate, cordate, hastate, sagittate, attenuate, cuneate, oblique, or rounded at the base. Lamina margins are almost always entire. Vernation is conduplicate, plicate, or convolute. The mesophyll often contains crystal raphides.

Flowers of the Orchidaceae Family

Orchidaceae members are almost always hermaphrodites and frequently have floral nectaries with secretion from the perianth or from the gynoecium as well as extrafloral nectaries. However, Cypripedioideae rarely have nectaries and rely on deceptive pollination traps instead. Pollination is mostly entomophilous, with mechanisms that are often conspicuously specialized and have complex morphological adaptations that have evolved to the behavior of very specific pollinators and may involve hygroscopic movements of pollinia. 

Flowers are solitary or aggregated in terminal or axillary panicles, racemes, spikes, heads, or umbels and may or may not have scapes.

Flowers are small to large, fragrant or odorless, and very irregular, with the irregularity involving the perianth and the androecium. They are typically zygomorphic, with the inner median member being generally enlarged and different in color, forming the characteristic labellum that is posterior (adaxial) in origin but usually appearing anterior (abaxial) through torsion of the pedicel; they are usually resupinate, making identification easy, but some are not.

Orchidaceae flowers are 3-merous and cyclic, usually with a perianth of tepals, but occasionally the outer members are green and appear to have a distinct calyx and corolla. The perianth has 6 parts in 2 whorls, free or joined, with two or more tepals that are often coherent at the base and sometimes adherent to the gynoecium. They are petaloid or sepaloid and petaloid and occasionally are spotted. They may be interpreted as tepals or sepals and petals, but both the inner and outer whorls have 3 parts, which may be free, partially connate, or connate.

The labellum is often spurred and often serves as a reservoir for nectar. It is usually a different color than the rest of the tepals and is often hairy, with hairs of various colors. It may be undivided or lobed (especially in Calanthe species), flat or bag-shaped, convex or concave, and generally directed downwards.

In the Cypripedioideae, the lateral petals are often much larger than the other tepals, and the labellum is characteristically slipper-shaped, an easy way to identify this Orchidaceae subfamily.  

Androecium of the Orchidaceae Family

The Orchidaceae all have 3 members of the androecium that are nearly always fused with the style to form a gynostemium, except in rare cases when the anthers and stigma are sessile. They are also adnate to the perianth via the fusion of the tepals and the gynostemium. The androecium is 1 adelphous with 1 stamen ending in an often conspicuous anther cap that covers the mass of pollinia and two staminodes located inside, interpreted as the inner whorl. The structure is located opposite the labellum. Anthers are usually with filaments but may be sessile; they are dorsifixed to basifixed, dehiscing via longitudinal slits, introrse, tetrasporangiate, and appendaged or unappendaged.

Cypripedioideae are similar, but their members are free of the perianth but still form a gynostemium that is thicker and inflexed. They have 2 stamens opposite the labellum and one staminode that is non-petaloid and shield-like. The anthers also dehisce via longitudinal slits, but they are latrorse rather than introrse.

Gynoecium of the Orchidaceae Family

Orchidaceae members have a syncarpous gynoecium that is almost always inferior. They have 3 carpels, isomerous with the perianth, with the odd carpel anterior to the labellum. There is 1 style that is inflexed, terminal, and has a stylar canal present. There is only 1 stigma that is 3-lobed but modified so that the apex of the median lobe forms the rostellum (which forms a physical barrier between the pollinia and receptive stigma to prevent self-pollination), which sits between the anther cap and the stigma; they are wet type, papillate, and Group III type. Placentation is almost always parietal. The ovary is 1-locular with ovules not differentiated, with 30–1500+ ovules per carpel that are non-arillate, anatropous, bitegmic (usually) or unitegmic, and tenuinucellate. However, in Cypripedioideae, the ovary is occasionally 3-locular, and when it is, placentation will be axile.

Fruit of the Orchidaceae Family

Fruits in the Orchidaceae family are usually non-fleshy, dehiscent loculicidal, or occasionally septicidal capsules, but they are rarely a fleshy indehiscent berry (some Vanilloideae). Fruits are many-seeded with usually tiny, thin-walled, wind-dispersed seeds, but they may be larger and crustose in some Vanilloideae, where they are dispersed by grazing animals. The seeds are always non-endospermic or barely endospermic (development arrested early), which is why the Orchidaceae family is so dependent on soil fungi for germination and early growth to supply the necessary nutrients. There is no perisperm absent. 

Taxonomy of the Orchidaceae Family

Orchidaceae is the largest plant family in the world. It is part of the Asparagales order of the monocot clade, and it has ~30,543 species currently described in ~880 genera.

In recent years, advances in molecular phylogenetics clarified the relationships of this unique family, causing the number of genera to expand and then reduce. However, the Orchidaceae family is in constant flux as new studies clarify the relationships. This process takes time, especially in the Neotropics, which has incredibly high rates of endemism and likely underestimated numbers of genera and species.

Many species are extremely limited geographically and are critically endangered, facing extinction before accurate data can even describe them. While major advances have occurred in the last 10 years or so, we still need to do much more work on the Orchidaceae family.

The Orchidaceae are subdivided into five subfamilies as follows:

1. Apostasioideae are a small subfamily with 2 genera of rhizomatous plants, with roots that have scattered tubers and often wire-like rootlets. There are conical SiO₂ bodies found in bundle sheath cells; the leaves are spiral, with plicate vernation. Flowers are typically not resupinate and have apiculate, keeled tepals, often with a prominent midrib. They are mostly found in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific.
2. Cypripedioideae is a small subfamily of 5 genera that are widespread in the mostly warm but also cool temperate northern hemisphere. They are epiphytic or epilithic plants with roots with persistent hairs. Flowers are typically not resupinate; the outer tepals are open, and the 2 abaxial tepals of the outer whorl are connate, with a saccate labellum. There are 2 stamens as the lateral members and one single, median, conspicuous staminode in the outer whorl.
3. Epidendroideae is the largest subfamily with 650 genera in 16 tribes found more or less worldwide but mostly pantropical, except Australia, which has low diversity. Plants are fleshy; roots typically have tiny pores, aiding in gas exchange. Many are epiphytes, holomycoheterotrophic, and mycoheterotrophic. There are bicellular mucilage-secreting floral hairs; stomata are often paracytic; leaves are unifacial, terete, or isobifacial, often articulated and deciduous above a sheathing base. The anther is bent forwards with a beak, operculate.
4. Orchidaceae is a large subfamily with 204 genera found virtually worldwide, especially in temperate areas but also in tropical areas. Their roots are typically fleshy rhizomes and often contain no tubers. Leaves and stems rarely have sclerenchyma; leaves are spiral, soft, and herbaceous. Anthers are erect and incumbent, with acute apexes; staminodes of the inner whorl are reduced.
5. Vanilloideae is a subfamily of 16 largely pantropical genera, some extending into the temperate zone. They are glabrous plants with sclerenchyma in leaves and reticulate venation, often with a calyculus. The tepals are often keeled; the androecium is made of 1 median abaxial member of the outer whorl, with the 2 lateral members in the inner whorl being staminodes. Anthers are characteristically bent forward by massive expansion of the apical column/connective.

Genera of the Orchidaceae Family Arranged by Subfamily

The Apostasioideae Subfamily

Apostasia (8), Neuwiedia (8).

The Cypripedioideae Subfamily

Cypripedium (54), Mexipedium (1), Paphiopedilum (110), Phragmipedium (18), Selenipedium (10).

The Epidendroideae Subfamily

Acampe (7), Acanthophippium (14), Acianthera (305), Acineta (14), Acriopsis (10), Acrorchis (1), Ada (1 unplaced), Adamantinia (1), Adenoncos (17), Adrorhizon (1), Aerangis (57), Aeranthes (46), Aerides (33), Aeridostachya (21), Aetheorhyncha (1), Afropectinariella (5), Aganisia (3), Aglossorrhyncha (13), Agrostophyllum (135), Alamania (1), Alatiliparis (14), Ambrella (1), Amesiella (3), Anathallis (117), Ancistrochilus (2), Ancistrorhynchus (17), Andinia (80), Andreettaea (60), Angraecopsis (20 or syn. Sphyrarhynchus), Angraecum (224), Anguloa (9), Ania (6), Ansellia (1), Anthogonium (1), Aphyllorchis (20), Aplectrum (1), Appendicula (155), Arachnis (15), Archivea (1), Arethusa (1), Arpophyllum (3), Artorima (1), Arundina (1), Aspasia (7), Auxopus (4), Bambuseria (2), Barbosella (19), Barkeria (19), Batemannia (3), Beclardia (2), Benzingia (11), Biermannia (11), Bifrenaria (52), Bletia (56), Bletilla (6), Bogoria (5), Bolusiella (6), Brachionidium (83), Brachypeza (12), Braemia (1), Brassavola (19), Brassia (70), Bromheadia (29), Broughtonia (6), Bryobium (27), Bulbophyllum (2216), Calanthe (282), Callostylis (3), Calopogon (5), Caluera (5), Calymmanthera (5), Calypso (1), Calyptrochilum (3), Campanulorchis (4), Campylocentrum (78), Capanemia (8), Catasetum (206), Cattleya (136), Caucaea (19), Caularthron (4), Cephalanthera (21), Ceratocentron (1), Ceratostylis (153), Chamaeanthus (4), Chamelophyton (1), Changnienia (2), Chaubardia (3), Chaubardiella (8), Cheiradenia (1), Chiloschista (34), Chondrorhyncha (5), Chondroscaphe (16), Chroniochilus (5), Chrysoglossum (4), Chysis (13), Chytroglossa (3), Cirrhaea (7), Cischweinfia (13), Claderia (2), Cleisocentron (8), Cleisomeria (2), Cleisostoma (107), Cleisostomopsis (5), Clowesia (8), Cochleanthes (4), Coelia (5), Coeliopsis (1), Coelogyne (600), Collabium (15), Comparettia (89), Constantia (6), Corallorrhiza (12), Coryanthes (71), Corymborkis (8), Cottonia (1), Cremastra (7), Crepidium (305), Crossoglossa (51), Crossoliparis (1), Cryptarrhena (3), Cryptochilus (8), Cryptopus (4), Cryptopylos (4), Cuitlauzina (8), Cyanaeorchis (3), Cycnoches (33), Cylindrolobus (79), Cymbidium (92), Cymboglossum (10 or syn. Rhynchostele), Cypholoron (2), Cyrtochiloides (3), Cyrtochilum (214), Cyrtopodium (51), Cyrtorchis (19), Dactylostalix (2), Daiotyla (5), Danxiaorchis (3), Deceptor (1), Dendrobium (1603), Dendrolirium (13), Dendrophylax (16), Devogelia (1), Diaphananthe (29), Diceratostele (1), Dichaea (127), Didymoplexiella (9), Didymoplexiopsis (1), Didymoplexis (22), Dienia (5), Diglyphosa (3), Dilochia (10), Dilochiopsis (1), Dilomilis (5), Dimerandra (7), Dimorphorchis (11), Dinema (1), Dinklageella (4), Diodonopsis (6), Diplocentrum (2), Diploprora (2), Dipodium (42), Disa (186), Discyphus (1), Disperis (81), Dunstervillea (11), Dyakia (1), Earina (7), Echinorhyncha (5), Echinosepala (17), Eggelingia (3 or syn. Tridactyle), Eleorchis (1), Elleanthus (158), Embreea (2), Encyclia (175), Ephippianthus (2), Epiblastus (23), Epidendrum (1889), Epilyna (2), Epipactis (70), Epipogium (8), Erasanthe (1), Eria (45), Eriodes (1), Eriopsis (4), Erycina (7), Eulophia (286), Euryblema (2), Eurychone (2), Fernandezia (89), Frondaria (3), Galeandra (41), Galeottia (12), Gastrochilus (88), Gastrodia (113), Gomesa (129), Gongora (81), Govenia (29), Grammangis (2), Grammatophyllum (13), Graphorkis (4), Grobya (5), Grosourdya (26), Guarianthe (4), Gunnarella (6), Hagsatera (2), Hammarbya (1), Hancockia (1), Hederorkis (2), Helleriella (2), Hintonella (1), Hoehneella (2), Hofmeisterella (2), Holcoglossum (24), Homalopetalum (10), Horichia (1), Horvatia (1), Houlletia (9), Humboldtia (8 or syn. Stelis), Huntleya (17), Hymenorchis (14), Imerinaea (1), Ionopsis (7), Ipsea (3), Isabelia (3), Isotria (2), Ixyophora (8), Jacquiniella (12), Jejewoodia (6), Jumellea (55), Kefersteinia (65), Kegeliella (3), Koellensteinia (14), Kylicanthe (6), Lacaena (2), Laelia (25), Lankesteriana (22), Lemurella (4), Lemurorchis (1), Leochilus (12), Lepanthes (1231), Lepanthopsis (50), Leptotes (10), Limodorum (3), Liparis (446), Listrostachys (1), Lockhartia (33), Loefgrenianthus (1), Lueckelia (1), Lueddemannia (3), Luisia (54), Lycaste (42), Lycomormium (5), Macradenia (13), Macroclinium (49), Macropodanthus (11), Madisonia (10), Malaxis (172), Masdevallia (656), Maxillaria (665), Mediocalcar (17), Meiracyllium (2), Mengzia (1), Miltonia (12), Miltoniopsis (5), Mobilabium (1), Monophyllorchis (6), Mormodes (87), Mycaranthes (37), Myoxanthus (56), Myrmecophila (10), Mystacidium (10), Nemaconia (6), Neobathiea (6), Neocogniauxia (2), Neogardneria (1), Neomoorea (1), Neottia (87), Nephelaphyllum (14), Nephrangis (2), Nervilia (83), Nidema (2), Nohawilliamsia (1), Notylia (54), Notyliopsis (1), Oberonia (266), Oberonioides (8), Octarrhena (50), Octomeria (171), Oeonia (5), Oeoniella (2), Oestlundia (4), Oliveriana (15), Omoea (2), Oncidium (339), Ophidion (17 or syn. Phloeophila), Ophioglossella (1), Oreorchis (17), Orestias (4), Orleanesia (6), Ornithocephalus (56), Otoglossum (27), Otostylis (2), Oxystophyllum (36), Pabstia (5), Pabstiella (132), Pachystoma (1), Palmorchis (38), Paphinia (16), Papilionanthe (12), Paradisanthus (1), Paraphalaenopsis (4), Pelatantheria (8), Pennilabium (18), Peristeranthus (1), Peristeria (13), Pescatoria (21), Phalaenopsis (83), Phloeophila (6), Phragmorchis (1), Phreatia (221), Phymatidium (9), Pilophyllum (1), Pinalia (176), Platyrhiza (1), Platystele (124), Plectorrhiza (5), Plectrelminthus (1), Plectrophora (10), Pleione (26), Pleurothallis (602), Pleurothallopsis (21), Plocoglottis (35), Poaephyllum (7), Podangis (2), Podochilus (65), Pogoniopsis (2), Polycycnis (15), Polyotidium (1), Polystachya (250), Pomatocalpa (23), Ponera (2), Porpax (57), Porphyroglottis (1), Porroglossum (59), Porrorhachis (2), Promenaea (1), Prosthechea (132), Pseuderia (21), Pseudolaelia (14), Psilochilus (19), Psychilis (15), Psychopsis (4), Pteroceras (22), Pterostemma (5), Pygmaeorchis (2), Quekettia (7), Quisqueya (4), Rangaeris (3), Rauhiella (3), Renanthera (22), Restrepia (69), Restrepiella (3), Rhinerrhiza (1), Rhinerrhizopsis (4), Rhipidoglossum (54), Rhynchogyna (2), Rhyncholaelia (2), Rhynchostele (17), Rhynchostylis (4), Ridleyella (1), Risleya (1), Robiquetia (97), Rodriguezia (46), Rossioglossum (13), Saccolabiopsis (14), Saccolabium (4), Sanderella (2), Santotomasia (1), Sarcanthopsis (6), Sarcochilus (23), Sarcoglyphis (14), Sarcophyton (3), Scaphosepalum (60), Scaphyglottis (78), Schlimia (6), Schoenorchis (32), Schunkea (1), Seegeriella (3), Seidenfadenia (1), Sirhookera (2), Smithsonia (3), Smitinandia (3), Sobennikoffia (4), Sobralia (195), Solenangis (5), Solenidium (3), Soterosanthus (1), Sotoa (1), Spathoglottis (43), Specklinia (117), Sphyrarhynchus (3), Stanhopea (78), Stelis (1342), Stenia (22), Stereochilus (9), Stereosandra (1), Stichorkis (27), Strongyleria (4), Suarezia (1), Sudamerlycaste (45 or syn. Ida), Summerhayesia (2), Sutrina (2), Systeloglossum (5), Taeniophyllum (251), Tamayorkis (4? or syn. Malaxis), Tainia (30), Taprobanea (1), Teagueia (18), Telipogon (258), Tetramicra (10), Thaia (1), Thecopus (2), Thecostele (1), Thelasis (1?), Thrixspermum (201), Thunia (4), Thysanoglossa (3), Tipularia (5), Tolumnia (30), Tomzanonia (1), Trevoria (5), Triceratorhynchus (3), Trichocentrum (103), Trichoceros (10), Trichoglottis (89), Trichopilia (47), Trichosalpinx (39), Trichotosia (76), Tridactyle (52), Triphora (25), Trisetella (29), Trizeuxis (1), Tropidia (34), Tuberolabium (10), Uleiorchis (4), Uncifera (7), Vanda (90), Vandopsis (2), Vargasiella (2), Vasqueziella (1), Veyretella (2), Vitekorchis (4), Warczewiczella (11), Warmingia (4), Warrea (4), Warreella (2), Warreopsis (1), Wullschlaegelia (2), Xerorchis (2), Xylobium (18), Yoania (5), Ypsilopus (14), Zelenkoa (1), Zootrophion (40), Zygopetalum (6), Zygosepalum (3), Zygostates (32).

The Orchidoideae Subfamily

Aa (26), Achlydosa (1), Acianthus (9), Adenochilus (2), Aenhenrya (1), Altensteinia (8), Anacamptis (13), Anoectochilus (51), Aporostylis (1), Aracamunia (1), Arthrochilus (15), Aulosepalum (10), Baskervilla (11), Beloglottis (8), Benthamia (42), Bipinnula (10), Bonatea (13), Brachycorythis (40), Brachystele (19), Brownleea (8), Buchtienia (4), Burnettia (1), Caladenia (307), Caleana (15), Calochilus (31), Ceratandra (6), Chamaegastrodia (5), Chamorchis (1), Cheirostylis (63), Chiloglottis (26), Chloraea (54), Coccineorchis (8), Codonorchis (2), Coilochilus (1), Cooktownia (1), Corybas (160), Corycium (13), Cotylolabium (1), Cranichis (92), Cryptostylis (23), Cybebus (1), Cyclopogon (107), Cynorkis (179), Cyrtostylis (6), Cystorchis (20), Dactylorhiza (34), Danhatchia (3), Degranvillea (1), Deiregyne (25), Dichromanthus (4), Diplomeris (3), Diuris (102), Dossinia (1), Dracomonticola (1), Drakaea (10), Domingoa (4), Draconanthes (10), Dracula (147), Dresslerella (14), Dressleria (13), Dryadella (55), Dryadorchis (5), Drymoanthus (8), Eclecticus (1), Eltroplectris (16), Epiblema (1), Eriaxis (1), Eriochilus (12), Erythrodes (26), Espinhassoa (2), Eurycentrum (4), Fuertesiella (1), Funkiella (16), Galearis (10), Galeoglossum (3), Galeottiella (3), Gavilea (17), Gennaria (2), Genoplesium (62), Glomera (155), Gomphichis (34), Gonatostylis (2), Goodyera (100), Gymnadenia (30), Habenaria (933), Halleorchis (1), Hapalorchis (13), Helonoma (4), Hemipilia (4), Herminium (52), Herpysma (1), Hetaeria (26), Himantoglossum (9), Holothrix (48), Huttonaea (5), Hylophila (6), Kionophyton (4), Kuhlhasseltia (1? unplaced), Lankesterella (11), Lepidogyne (1), Leporella (1), Leptoceras (1), Ludisia (2), Lyperanthus (2), Lyroglossa (2), Macodes (11), Manniella (2), Megalorchis (1), Megastylis (6), Mesadenella (10), Mesadenus (5), Microchilus (263), Microcoelia (37), Microepidendrum (1), (21), Microsaccus (13), Microtis (23), Myrmechis (3? unplaced), Myrosmodes (14), Neobolusia (3), Neotinea (6), Nothostele (2), Odontochilus (73), Odontorrhynchus (5), Oligophyton (1), Ophrys (25), Orchipedum (4), Orchis (22), Orthoceras (2), Pachites (2), Pachyplectron (3), Papuaea (1), Pecteilis (10), Pelexia (96), Peristylus (102), Pheladenia (1), Physoceras (12), Physogyne (3), Platanthera (155), Platycoryne (1?), Platylepis (20), Ponerorchis (1?), Ponthieva (76), Porphyrostachys (2), Praecoxanthus (1), Prasophyllum (150), Prescottia (25), Pseudocentrum (17), Pseudogoodyera (1), Pseudorchis (1), Pterichis (45), Pteroglossa (14), Pterostylis (315), Pterygodium (20), Pyrorchis (2), Quechua (1), Rhizanthella (5), Rhomboda (27), Rimacola (1), Sacoila (9), Sarcoglottis (57), Satyrium (91), Sauroglossum (11), Schiedeella (18), Schizochilus (11), Schuitemania (1), Serapias (18), Sertifera (11), Sievekingia (14), Silvorchis (5), Sirindhornia (3), Skeptrostachys (10), Solenocentrum (4), Spiculaea (1), Spiranthes (44), Stenoglottis (5), Stenoptera (6), Stenorrhynchos (7), Stenotyla (9), Steveniella (1), Stigmatodactylus (28), Svenkoeltzia (3), Thelymitra (120), Thelyschista (1), Thulinia (1), Townsonia (3), Traunsteinera (2), Tylostigma (8), Vrydagzynea (43), Waireia (1), Zeuxine (84).

The Vanilloideae Subfamily

Cleistes (59), Cleistesiopsis (3), Clematepistephium (1), Cyrtosia (7), Duckeella (8), Epistephium (28), Erythrorchis (2), Eurystyles (23), Evotella (2), Galeola (5), Isochilus (13), Lecanorchis (24), Pogonia (6), Pseudovanilla (8), Vanilla (127).

Key Differences From Similar Families

The Orchidaceae are easily distinguished from all other plants, as they usually share some very evident derived characteristics or synapomorphies. Among these are zygomorphic flowers, many resupinate flowers, a nearly always highly modified petal (labellum), fused stamens and carpels, and extremely small seeds. There are many epiphytes, and many/most have highly specialized pollination mechanisms that have evolved for very specific pollinator species. In the past, I would have said the only family it might be confused with is the Cypripediaceae, but those are now included as the subfamily Cypripedioideae.

Distribution of the Orchidaceae

The Orchidaceae is a cosmopolitan family found from frigid (rare) to tropical zones, where it is by far the most abundant. In the Americas, the family is widely distributed throughout Canada and the USA, including the Arctic. Orchidaceae are particularly abundant in Mexico and especially the Neotropics, with each showing very high rates of endemic species. However, it is not well represented in the southern temperate Patagonia region of the Americas, but there are still some Orchidoideae represented there.  

Distribution of the Orchidaceae in the Americas

Canadian Orchidaceae Genera Include:

Surprisingly, Canada has a number of native Orchidaceae found throughout the country, with all 4 of the most common subfamilies found there.

Cypripedioideae in Canada:

Cypripedium 12 spp. native to all of Canada, including the Arctic, but possibly excluding Labrador. 

Epidendroideae in Canada:

Aplectrum 1 sp. native to ON, QC; Arethusa monospecific E NAM endemic sp. native to most of Canada, including the Arctic, but excluding BC, YT, and NU; Calopogon 1 sp. native to MB, ON, QC, NB, NS, PE, and NL (exc. Labrador); Calypso monospecific N temperate species native to most of Canada, inc. Arctic, but exc. Labrador and PE; Cephalanthera 1 sp. native to BC; Corallorhiza 5 spp. native to all of Canada, inc. Arctic (and Greenland); Epipactis 2 spp. native to BC, introduced to MB, ON, QC, NB, NS, PE, and NL (exc. Labrador); Hammarbya monospecific N temperate species native to BC E to ON, plus YK and NWT; Isotria 2 spp. native to ON; Liparis 2 spp. are native to most of Canada, including the Arctic, but exclude YT, NU, and Labrador; Malaxis 4 spp. native to most of Canada, including the Arctic, but excluding NU; Neottia 8 spp. native to all of Canada, including the Arctic (and Greenland); Triphora 1 sp. native to ON.  

Orchidoideae in Canada:

Coeloglossum (or syn. Dactylorhiza) 1 sp. native in most of Canada, inc. the Arctic, but exc. NU, PE?; Dactylorhiza 1 sp. intro in ON, NL (excluding Labrador); Galearis 2 spp. are native in most of Canada, including the Arctic, but excluding PE, NS, and Labrador; Goodyera 4 spp. native to all of Canada, including the Arctic; Platanthera 31 spp. native to all of Canada, including the Arctic (and Greenland); Pseudorchis 1 sp. native to QC, NL (exc. Labrador), and in Greenland; Spiranthes 14 spp. native to all of Canada, including the Arctic;

Vanillioideae in Canada:

Pogonia 1 sp. native to MB, ON, QC, NB, NS, PE, NL (excluding Labrador).

USA Orchidaceae Genera Include:

Being further south, the USA naturally has a higher diversity of Orchidaceae than Canada, especially in the Epidendroideae subfamily, which is especially abundant in the neotropics.

Cypripedioideae in the USA:

Cypripedium 15 spp. native to all of the USA, including AK but excluding NV, FL.

Epidendroideae in the USA:

Aplectrum monospecific E NAM endemic native to most of E USA from MN S to LA and all E exc. LA, FL, RI, NH; Arundina 1 sp. intro HI; Arethusa monospecific E NAM endemic sp. native to MN, WI, IL, IN, OH, MI, PA, SC, NC, VA, MD, DE, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, ME; Bletia 4-8? spp. native to SE USA from AZ E to FL and N to KS E to MD (from POWO, USDA only lists 3 spp. in FL); Bletilla 1 sp. intro KY, FL; Brassia 1 sp. native to FL; Bulbophyllum 1 sp. native FL; Calopogon 5 spp. native to most of E USA from MN S to LA and all states E plus KS, OK, TX; Calypso monospecific N temperate species native to WA, OR, CA, ID, MT, WY, UT, CO, AZ, NM, SD, MN, WI, MI, NY, VT, NH, ME; Campylocentrum 1 sp. native to FL; Corallorrhiza 7 spp. native to all of the USA, including AK; Cymbidium 1 sp. intro HI; Cyrtopodium 2 spp. native and intro FL; Cephalanthera 1 sp. native WA, OR, ID, CA; Encyclia 2 spp. native and intro in HI; Epidendrum 10 spp. native and intro LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, intro HI; Epipactis 3 spp. intro and native most of USA exc ND, NE, KS, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC; Eulophia 1 sp. native FL; Galeandra 1 sp. native FL; Govenia 1 sp. native to S FL; Hagsatera 2 spp., including 1 endemic to SW+C Mexico; Hammarbya monospecific N temperate species native to MN and AK; Isotria 2 spp. native TX, OK, MO, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, KY, TN, IL, IN, OH, MI, WV, VA, MD, DE, PA, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, ME; Laelia 1 sp. intro FL; Lepanthopsis 1 sp. native to FL; Liparis 5 spp. are native in most of USA and HI but exclude OR, CA, NV, ID, WY, CO, UT, AZ, NM, TX, LA, MS; Listera (~ Neottia?) 8 spp. native to most of the USA, inc. AK but exc. ND, NE, KS, IA, MO, IL, IN; Macradenia 1 sp. native to FL; Malaxis 11 spp. native to most of the USA, inc. AK, but exc. WA, OR, ID, MT, ND, SD, NE, WY, NV, UT; Maxillaria 2 spp. native to FL; Oncidium 1 sp. native to FL; Polystachya 1 sp. native to FL; Prosthechea 3 spp. native to FL; Restrepiella 1 sp. native to FL; Sotoa monospecific, endangered, endemic to Mexico and SW TX; Spathoglottis 1 sp. intro FL, HI; Tamayorkis 2 spp. native to AZ, NM; Tetramicra 1 sp. native to FL; Tipularia 1 sp. native to TX, OK, MO, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, KY, TN, IL, IN, OH, MI, WV, VA, MD, DE, PA, NJ, NY, CT; Tolumnia 1 sp. native to FL; Trichocentrum 1 sp. native to FL; Triphora 5 spp. native to most of E USA from ND S to TX and all E except ND, SD, MN, RI; Tropidia 1 sp. native to FL; Vanda 1 sp. intro HI.

Orchidoideae in the USA:

Anoectochilus 1 sp. native to HI; Beloglottis 1 sp. native to FL; Cranichis 1 sp. native to FL; Cyclopogon 1 sp. native to FL; Dactylorhiza 2 spp. native to most of the USA, including AK, but excluding OR, ID, CA, NV, KS, OK, TX, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, NC; Deiregyne 1 sp. native to TX; Dichromanthus 1 sp. native to AZ and TX; Eltroplectris 1 sp. native to FL; Galearis 1 sp. native to most of E USA from MN S to LA, exc. LA, FL, and inc. NE, KS, OK; Goodyera 4 spp. native in most of the USA, inc. AK but exc. NV, ND, KS, TX, LA; Ionopsis 1 sp. native FL; Gymnadenia 1 sp. intro CT; Habenaria 5 spp. native to TX, OK, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, and HI; Mesadenella 1 sp. native to S Mexico and Ver; Mesadenus 1 sp. native to FL; Microchilus 1 sp. native to LA, FL; Microthelys (~Funkiella) 1 sp. native NM; Pelexia 1 sp. native to FL; Platanthera 51 spp. native to all of the USA, including AK and HI; Pleurothallis 1 sp. native to FL; Ponthieva 2 spp. native TX, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, TN, SC, NC, VA; Prescottia 1 sp. native to FL; Sacoila 1 sp. native to FL; Schiedeella 1 sp. native to AZ, NM, TX; Spiranthes 30 spp. native to all of the USA, including AK; Stenorrhynchos 3 spp. native to AZ, TX, FL (USDA); Zeuxine 1 sp. intro to TX, LA, AL, GA, FL, and HI. 

Vanilloideae in the USA

Cleistes 2 spp. native to TX, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, KY, TN, WV, VA, MD, DE, and NJ (from USDA; POWO says Neo only); Cleistesiopsis 3 spp. endemic genus of SU USA native to LA E to FL and N to VA, MD, and extinct in DE; Dendrophylax 1 sp. native to FL; Pogonia 1 sp. native to most of E USA from ND S to TX and all E exc SD, NE, KS, IA; Vanilla 7 spp. native and intro FL.        

Mexico Orchidaceae Genera Include:

Mexico has well over 1,000 species of orchids, with rates of endemism at around 40% of all the species found there. Here they are broken into subfamilies.

Cypripedioideae in Mexico:

Cypripedium 4 spp. native throughout C+S Mexico; Mexipedium is monospecific and narrowly endemic to Oax; Phragmipedium 1 sp. native to Chiapas.

Epidendroideae in Mexico:

Acianthera 18-20 spp. native, including ~6 endemics, found in most of Mexico except the NW, also on Socorro Island; Acineta 4 spp., including 2 endemics native to SW+C+SE Mexico and Ver; Alamania monospecific endemic Jal, Mch, Oax, Qro, SLP; Anathallis 5 spp. native to SW+C+SE Mexico and Ver, including 2 endemics; Andreettaea 1 sp. native to SW+SE Mexico and Ver; Arpophyllum 3 spp. native to most regions of Mexico except the NW, including 1 endemic to the country; Artorima monospecific narrow endemic of Gro, Oax; Arundina 1 sp. intro to Mor, Tab, Ver; Barbosella 1 sp. native to S Mexico and Ver; Barkeria 14 spp. of epiphytes and lithophytes found in W Mexico from Sin S through Mex to Chp, including 4 narrow endemics of Nay, Oax (2), and Mch; Bifrenaria 2 spp. native to SW+SE Mexico; Bletia ~40 spp., inc. ~5 endemics in most of Mexico exc. N deserts of Chi, Coa, Dgo, Son, and BCN; Brassavola 2 spp. native to most E Mexico from Tam and SLP SE to Yuc and S to Chp, plus Jal, Nay, and S Son; Brassia 4 spp. native from Gto S to Chp and SE to Cam; Bulbophyllum 3-5 spp. native to S+C Mexico and Ver; Calanthe 1 sp. native to Chp, Hgo, NL, SLP, Tam, Ver; Campylocentrum 8 spp. native to Cam, Jal, Pue, Oax, Tab, Ver; Catasetum 2-5 spp. native throughout Mexico, including 1 endemic; Caularthron 1 sp. native to SE Mexico; Chysis 3 spp. native to E Mexico from Qro to Ver and Oax to Chp; Clowesia 4 spp. native to W Mexico from Sin S to Chp and SE to Cam, including 2 endemics; Cochleanthes 1 sp. native to SE Mexico; Coelia 5 spp. native at high elevations in SW+C+SE Mexico, Ver; Comparettia 1 sp. native in mtns of S+C Mexico; Corallorhiza 6 spp., found mostly in highlands Nay, NL, Sin, Son, Tam, and SLP S to Chp, most in C Mexico, also in Chi; Coryanthes 1 sp. native to Cam, Chp, Oax, Tab; Corymborkis 1 sp. native to SW+SE Mexico, and Ver; Crossoliparis monospecific endemic to SW+SE Mexico and N Neo; Cryptarrhena 1 sp. native to S Mexico and Ver; Cuitlauzina 5 spp. including 2 rare endemics, found in most of Mexico except the far north and Veracruz; Cycnoches 3? spp. native to S Mexico; Cyrtochiloides 1 sp. native to SE Mexico; Cyrtopodium 2 spp. native to much of Mexico except BC, BCS, Chi, Coa, NL, and Son; Dendrophylax 2 spp. native to S Mexico and Ver; Dichaea 7 spp. native to EC Mexico SLP S to Oax, Chp, and also Mex; Dimerandra 1 sp. native to S Mexico; Dinema monospecific, native to Chp, Oax, and Ver; Elleanthus 3 spp. native to E-S Mexico from Ver S to Chp, including 1 rare endemic of Gro?; Encyclia 35 spp., including 3 endemics from Sin, S Son, and Tam, from Nay in W to N Ver in E and widespread all S of that; Epidendrum ~125 spp. native throughout all of Mexico, inc. ~55 endemic spp.; Epipactis 1 sp. native to N and C Mexico; Erycina 4 spp., including 2 endemics SW Mexico from Jal S to Chp, plus Ver; Eulophia 2 spp. native to Dgo, Sin, Oax, Ver, and Chp; Fernandezia 1 sp. endemic to SW Mexico; Galeandra 2 spp. native to Chp, Col; Galeottia 1 sp. native to SW Mexico; Gongora 3 spp. native to most of Mexico except N, NW, including 2 endemics; Govenia 12 spp., including ~5 endemic, mostly tropical Mexico and mtns up to S Son; Guarianthe 2 spp. native throughout most of Mexico and Socorro Island; Hagsatera 1 sp. native to Guatemala; Helleriella 2 spp., including 1 native to Chi and 1 narrow endemic of Gro; Hintonella monospecific endemic of Jal, Mch, and Mor; Hoehneella monospecific narrow endemic of SE Brazil; Homalopetalum 3 spp. native to most regions of Mexico except the N, including 1 endemic; Ionopsis 1 sp. native from Oax to Chps; Jacquiniella ~8 spp. native from Jal E to Ver S to Chp, including 3 endemics; Kefersteinia 1 sp. native to S Mexico; Kegeliella 1 sp. native to SW Mexico and Ver; Lacaena 2 spp. Mexico & neoendemic genus of S Mexico; Laelia ~14 spp inc. ~10 endemics are widespread in S Mexico from S Sin E to Tam and all S. plus N Sin and S Son, usually found at high elevations; Lankesteriana 3-5 spp., including 2 endemics to SW+C+SE Mexico; Leochilus 7 spp. native to Jal E to Pue S to Chp, including 3 endemics; Lepanthes 68 spp. native throughout S+C Mexico, including ~39 endemics; Lepanthopsis 1 sp. native to SE Mexico; Liparis 4-5 spp. native, including 1 endemic from Sin and Dgo S to Chp E to Pue; Lockhartia 2 spp. native to S Mexico, including 1 endemic to Oax, Chp; Lycaste 15+ spp., including at least 3 endemics native from Tam in E and Mch in W S to Chp; Macradenia 1 sp. native to S Mexico; Macroclinium 2 spp., including 1 endemic of S+SC Mexico, Ver; Malaxis 71 spp., including ~45 endemics widespread throughout Mexico S to Chp exc BC, Chi, Coa, rare Dgo; Masdevallia 3 spp. native to S+SC Mexico, Ver; Maxillaria ~50 spp. throughout Mexico, most in Col. E to SLP and throughout S Mexico, including several endemics; Meiracyllium 2 spp., including 1 endemic Nay, Jal, Col, Oax, Chp; Mormodes ~23 spp. native from Sin S to Chp, including 4 endemics; Myoxanthus 2 spp. native to S Mexico; Myrmecophila 8 spp. native mostly from Nay E to Tam and S to Chp and SE to tip of QR, Yuc, including ~5 endemics; Nemaconia 6 spp., including 2 endemics native to SW+SE+C Mexico and Ver; Nidema 2 spp. native to Cam, Chp, Gro, Hgo, Mex, Oax, Pue, Qro, SLP, Tab, Ver; Nohawilliamsia monospecific endemic of Venezuela, Guayana, and N Brazil; Notylia 7 spp. native from SLP and Jal S to Chp and SE to QR, Yuc, including 1 narrow endemic of Tam; Oestlundia 4 spp. native, including 3 endemics mostly in Jal, Tam, SLP, Hgo, Pue, Ver; Oncidium ~45 spp., including 4+ endemics mostly from Sin through S Mexico; Ornithocephalus 3 spp. native from Ver S to Oax, Chp and SE to QR, Yuc, includes 1 endemic; Phloeophila 1 sp. native to SE Mexico; Platystele 3 spp, native to S Mexico, esp. Chp, Pue, Ver; Plectrophora 1 sp. native (rare and endangered but not endemic) in SE Mexico; Pleurothallis ~55 spp. native to most of Mexico, including several endemics; Polystachya 3 spp. native to NE, SW+SE Mexico, Ver; Ponera 2 spp. native to most of Mexico exc. NW; Prosthechea 47 spp. native, including at least 4 endemics, found throughout most of Mexico but mostly the S half; Psilochilus 1 sp. native mostly in Oax, Ver; Restrepia 2 spp. mostly native to Chp; Restrepiella 1 sp. native mostly in Chp, Oax, Ver, Tab; Rhyncholaelia 2 spp. native to Cam, Chp, QR, Ver, Yuc; Rhynchostele ~15 spp. including 7 endemics S Son and W Dgo mtns and Tam S to Chp plus Yuc; Rodriguezia 1 sp. native to Jal, Nay; Rossioglossum 5 spp. native to S+C Mexico, including 1 endemic; Scaphosepalum 1 sp. native to SE Mexico; Scaphyglottis 15+ spp. native to W+C+SE Mexico, Ver, including 3+ endemics; Sobralia 15+ spp. native, including 2+ endemics from Mex S to Chp, plus Nay, Tab; Sotoa monospecific endangered endemic of S Coa, NL, Oax, SLP, Tam, Zac and SW TX USA; Specklinia 15 spp. native to E Mexico SLP S to Chp, Cam, and SW Mexico, including at least 1 endemic; Stanhopea 13 spp. native to most of Mexico, especially Tam and Nay S to Chp, includes 5 endemics; Stelis ~64 spp. with ~20 endemics found throughout Mexico; Tamayorkis 4 spp., including 2 endemic in most of Mexico except Ver; Telipogon 3 spp. all? endemic to S Mexico; Trichocentrum 29 spp., including ~10 endemic, found throughout Mexico; Trichopilia 3 spp. native to S Mexico, Ver; Trichosalpinx 4-5 spp. native, including 1 endemic, throughout Mexico; Triphora 7 spp. native to all of Mexico, inc. 1 endemic; Tropidia 1 sp. native to much of Mexico except the NW and C; Warrea 1 sp. native to SE Mexico; Wullschlaegelia 1 sp. native to S Mexico and Ver; Xylobium 2 spp. native to S Mexico.

Orchidoideae of Mexico

Aulosepalum 5 spp. endemic from Jal E to Tam and S to Chp; Beloglottis 2-3 spp. native to Tam, SLP, Ver, Chp, SW+C Mexico; Brachystele ~ 7spp., including 4-5 endemics, 3 narrow endemics of Jal, distributed throughout the W coast of Mexico; Baskervilla 11 spp. neoendemic genera of Nicaragua S to Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Ecuador, Peru, S+SE Brazil; Coccineorchis 8 spp. native to CAM (exc. Belize), Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Cranichis 6 spp. native inc. 1 endemic Chp, Jal, Mex, SLP, Tam; Cyclopogon 4 spp. native to Jal E to Tam and S to Chp; Deiregyne 25 spp. endemic from S TX through most of Mexico to Guatemala and Honduras, but most are endemic to Mexico; Dichromanthus 4 spp., inc. 2 endemics in most of Mexico exc. BC, Cam, Coa, QR, Yuc; Domingoa 1 sp. native native to Chp, Mch, Ver; Dracula 2 spp. native to S Mexico; Dryadella 2 spp. neoendemics found in S+C Mexico; Funkiella 2 spp. native to S Coa, Jal, Mex, Mch, Oax, Tlx; Galeoglossum 3 spp. in S+C Mexico, including 2 endemic to Chp, Oax; Galeottiella 3 spp. in S+C Mexico, including 2 endemics; Goodyera 12 spp. native throughout Mexico, including 1 rare endemic; Habenaria 80+ spp., most terrestrial, often in swampy areas throughout C, S and SE Mexico, plus BCS and mtns of Chi, Son, Sin, Dgo, includes 50+ spp. endemic to Mexico; Kionophyton 3 spp., including 2 endemic to S+C Mexico, with 1 of genus extending into Guatemala; Lyroglossa 1 rare sp. native to Ver (and Belize); Mesadenella 10 spp. native to CAM (exc. Panama) and tropical SAM S tro Peru, Bolivia, NE Argentina (exc. Uruguay and Suriname); Mesadenus 5 spp., including 2 endemic found throughout Mexico; Microchilus 5 spp., including 1-2 endemics native to most of Mexico except the NW and N; Microepidendrum monospecific endemic of Jal, Oax; Pelexia ~8 spp. native to much of Mexico except the NW, includes 2-3 endemics; Physogyne 3 spp. endemic genus of C+SW Mexico; Platanthera 6 spp. native, including 1 endemic, throughout N + C Mexico S to Oax; Ponthieva 11 spp. in all of Mexico but mostly from Tam and Zac S to Chp, includes 2-3 endemics; Prescottia 3 spp. native to most regions of Mexico (exc. NW), including 1 endemic; Pseudogoodyera monospecific endemic of NW Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Cuba; Pteroglossa 1 sp. native Chp; Sacoila 2 spp. native throughout all of Mexico except BC, Chi, Coa, and Dgo; Sarcoglottis 12+ spp., inc. 1 endemic throughout Mexico; Schiedeella 15+ spp., including several endemics, found throughout Mexico; Spiranthes ~5 spp. in most of Mexico except the NW; Stenorrhynchos ~4 spp. native to S+C Mexico, Ver; Stenotyla 1 sp. native to SW+SE Mexico; Svenkoeltzia 3 spp. narrow endemic genus of SW+C Mexico.

Vanilloideae of Mexico:

Eurystyles 2 spp. native to S Mexico; Isochilus ~9 spp. native to most of Mexico except the N, including 2 endemics; Vanilla 12+ spp. native to S+C Mexico, including the native V. planifolia widely cultivated around the tropics.

Neotropical Orchidaceae Genera Include:

There are about 10,000+ species of orchids that are endemic to the neotropics, so this list may change again as new species are discovered and new studies clarify their relationships, resulting in the lumping or splitting of species. However, this list is as up-to-date as I could make it as of June 2026.

Cypripedioideae in the Neotropics:

Cypripedium irapeanum is the southernmost species of its genus, found S to Honduras; Phragmipedium 18 spp. neoendemic genera from S Mexico S to Bolivia and Brazil but excluding El Salvador and Belize; Selenipedium 10 spp. native mostly to the Amazon region of SAM from Panama S. to Ecuador, Colombia, and N+C+NE Brazil.

Epidendroideae in the Neotropics A-E:

Acampe 1 sp. intro to Cuba; Acianthera ~300 spp. neotropical endemics found throughout CAM, the Greater and Lesser Antilles, and tropical SAM S to Peru and N Argentina; Acineta 12 spp. mostly neoendemics native to Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, N Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru; Acrorchis monospecific endemic of Costa Rica and Panama; Ada monospecific endemic (not fully placed in this subfamily) of Peru; Adamantinia monospecific narrow endemic species of E Brazil; Aetheorhyncha monospecific narrow endemic genus of Ecuador; Aganisia 3 spp. neoendemic genus of tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, C+NE Brazil, plus Trinidad-Tobago, and excluding Ecuador; Anathallis 115 spp. neoendemic (and some Mexican) genera of CAM, tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, NE Argentina (exc. Uruguay), plus Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Trinidad-Tobago; Andinia 80 spp. neoendemic genus of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Andreettaea 60 largely neoendemic spp. native to CAM, the Greater Antilles, Leeward & Windward Is., and tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, and N&SE Brazil; Anguloa 9 spp. NW SAM endemic genera of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia; Archivea monospecific narrow endemic of Brazil; Arpophyllum 2 spp. Mexico + N neoendemic genera of CAM (except Panama), plus Colombia, Venezuela, and Jamaica; Arundina 1 sp. intro to Costa Rica, El Salvador, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Panama, Puerto Rico; Aspasia 7 spp. neoendemic genus of epiphytes from Guatemala S through tropical SAM to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil; Barbosella 19 spp. neoendemic genus native to Guatemala and Nicaragua S to Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil (except C), Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and NE Argentina; Barkeria 15 spp. native, including multiple endemics mostly from Guatemala S to Costa Rica (exc. Belize) with 1 sp. S to Panama; Batemannia 3 spp. N SAM endemic genus S to Peru, Bolivia, and N Brazil; Benzingia 11 spp. N neoendemic genus of Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru; Bifrenaria 52 spp. neoendemic genera of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and Costa Rica S through tropical Sam to Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and Trinidad-Tobago; Bletia ~45-50 spp. native throughout the Caribbean, Antilles, CAM, and tropical SAM S to Peru, NW Argentina, Paraguay, and S Brazil, but excluding Suriname; Brachionidium 83 spp. neoendemic genus of Guatemala, Nicaragua S to Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Ecuador, peru, Bolivia, N+SE Brazil, and the Greater Antilles and Windward Is.; Braemia monospecific endemic of N SAM SA to Peru and N Brazil; Brassavola 19 spp. of showy fragrant epiphytes native to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, the Lesser Antilles, CAM, and tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and NE Argentina, excluding Ecuador and Uruguay, and including 1 critically endangered in Cayman Islands; Brassia 70 spp. of mostly epiphytes of wet low elevation rainforests native to CAM, the Greater Antilles, and tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil; Broughtonia 7 spp. Caribbean endemic genus in Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas; Bulbophyllum 70-100 spp. native throughout CAM, the Caribbean, the Antilles, and tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, NE Argentina, and S Brazil, with many endemic to Brazil; Brachystele ~12 spp. native to Colombia, Suriname, Peru, C Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and S+SE Brazil; Calanthe ~2 spp. of this mostly Asian genus are native to Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Cuba, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic and introduced to Puerto Rico; Calopogon mostly NAM genus with 1 sp. extending S to Cuba and the Bahamas; Caluera 5 spp. SAM endemic genus of Venezuela, Suriname, French Guiana, N. Brazil, Ecuador, and Bolivia; Campylocentrum 78 spp. native to CAM, Antilles, Caribbean, and tropical SAM S to N Argentina (exc. Chile); Capanemia 8 spp. SAM endemic genus of E+S Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, N Argentina, and Uruguay; Catasetum 205 spp. of showy epiphytes endemic to the West Indies, CAM, SAM to S Argentina, many endemic to Brazil; Cattleya 136 neoendemic spp. native to Costa Rica, S to Argentina and Brazil (exc. Chile); Caucaea 19 spp. N SAM endemic genus of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru; Caularthron 4 spp. endemic to SE Mexico, CAM, Colombia, Venezuela, Guayana, French Guiana, N Brazil, Ecuador, Trinidad-Tobago, and the Windward Is.; Chamelophyton monospecific endemic of Venezuela, French Guiana, and Suriname; Chaubardia 3 spp. N SAM endemic genus S to Peru, Bolivia, and C+SE Brazil; Chaubardiella 8 spp. N neoendemic genus from Costa Rica south to Colombia, E to French Guiana, plus Ecuador and Peru; Cheiradenia monospecific N SAM endemic species of Venezuela, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad-Tobago; Chondrorhyncha 5 spp. N SAM endemic genus of Ecuador E to Venezuela, most in highland rainforests; Chondroscaphe 15 spp. neoendemic genera from Costa Rica S to Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru; Chysis 13 spp. neoendemic genera from S Mexico S to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, and C Brazil; Chytroglossa 3 spp. narrow endemic genus of SE Brazil; Cirrhaea 7 spp. narrow endemic genus of epiphytes in E + S Brazil; Cischweinfia 13 spp. neoendemic genus from Costa Rica S to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Clowesia 6 spp. Mexico & neoendemic spp. native to CAM, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, N Brazil, and Ecuador; Cochleanthes 4 spp. native epiphytes of Guatemala S to Colombia (exc. El Salvador), Ecuador, Venezuela, N+S+SE Brazil, most of the Greater Antilles; Coelia 5 spp. Mexico and CAM endemic genus native to Guatemala S to Panama, Cuba, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico; Coeliopsis monospecific endemic of Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panamá; Comparettia 89 spp. neoendemic genus of CAM, the Greater Antilles, and tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil, excluding Guyana and Suriname, but mostly in the Andes; Constantia 6 spp. narrow endemic genus of S+SE Brazil; Corallorhiza 1 mostly northern sp. found S into highlands of Nicaragua; Coryanthes 71 spp. of mostly neoendemic epiphytes in lowland tropical forests from S Mexico S to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil, and also in Trinidad; Corymborkis 5 spp. native to CAM, Antilles, Colombia, Guyana (1 endemic), Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, NE Argentina, S & SE Brazil; Crossoglossa 51 spp. neoendemic genera from Nicaragua S to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Crossoliparis monospecific endemic of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela & S Mexico; Cryptarrhena 3 spp. neoendemic genus from S Mexico S through N SAM to Peru, Boliva, and Brazil, also in Jamaica and Trinidad-Tobago; Cuitlauzina 6 spp., many threatened endemics, native from Guatemala S to Colombia, excluding Belize; Cyanaeorchis 3 spp. E SAM endemics of C+SE+S Brazil, Paraguay, and NE Argentina; Cycnoches 33 spp. neoendemic epiphytes in hot humid lowlands from S Mexico S through CAM and tropical SAM to Peru, Bolivia, and SE Brazil (exc. NE Brazil); Cypholoron 2 spp. with 1 each endemic to Ecuador and Venezuela; Cyrtopodium 48 spp. endemic epiphyte and terrestrial from S USA S to Argentina; Cyrtochiloides 3 spp. native to Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador (1 endemic), and Peru; Cyrtochilum 214 spp. N neoendemic genera of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Leeward Is., Peru, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela; Cyrtopodium 51 spp. endemic from S USA S to Peru and N Argentina, plus the Greater Antilles; Daiotyla 5 spp. narrow endemic genus from Costa Rica S to Colombia; Dendrobium 1 sp. intro to Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Leeward Is., and Trinidad-Tobago; Dendrophylax 16 spp. epiphytes endemic to the Greater Antilles, Guatemala, and El Salvador, some critically endangered; Dichaea 120+ spp. Mexico & neoendemic native to CAM, Greater and Lesser Antilles, and tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil; Dilomilis 5 spp endemic to the Greater Antilles; Dimerandra 7 spp. neoendemic from S Mexico S to Peru, N+E Brazil, and Jamaica; Dinema monospecific endemic to S Mexico S to Nicaragua, Panama, Jamaica; Diodonopsis 6 spp. neoendemic genus Costa Rica to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Discyphus monospecific endemic of Panama, Venezuela, and NE Brazil; Dunstervillea 11 spp. neoendemic genus of Panama S to Peru, Bolivia, and N Brazil, excluding Suriname; Degranvillea monospecific endemic of French Guiana, Suriname; Echinorhyncha 5 spp. endemic to Colombia and Ecuador; Echinosepala 17 spp. neoendemics of Belize, Nicaragua S to Peru, Bolivia, and N Brazil, also Jamaica; Elleanthus 157 spp. mostly neoendemics of CAM, Greater and Lesser Antilles, and tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, N+E+S Brazil; Embreea 2 spp. endemic to Colombia and Ecuador; Encyclia 172 spp. epiphytes or lithophytes, most CAM and West Indies 0-1000 m, also Mexico, SAM S to Paraguay; Epidendrum 1800+ mostly neoendemic spp. native to CAM, the Greater and Lesser Antilles, tropical SAM S to Peru and N Argentina (exc. Uruguay); Eriopsis 4 spp. neoendemic of CAM (exc. El Salvador and Nicaragua), tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, and N Brazil; Erycina 5 spp. native to CAM and tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil; Eulophia 1 sp. native to CAM, the Greater and Lesser Antilles, tropical SAM S to Peru, N Argentina; Euryblema 2 spp. endemic to Panama and Colombia.

Epidendroideae in the Neotropics F-M:

Fernandezia 88 spp. neoendemic to Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Frondaria 3 spp. W SAM endemic to Colombia S to Bolivia; Galeandra 41 spp. neoendemic from FL and S Mexico S through the Greater Antilles, CAM, and tropical SAM S to Peru and N Argentina, mostly in the Amazon Basin; Galeottia 12 spp. neoendemic genus of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, and Brazil; Gomesa 129 spp. SAM endemic epiphyte or lithophyte, mostly in Brazil, but also Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and N Argentina; Gongora 79 spp. Mexico & neoendemic from Guatemala S through to Peru, Bolivia, N+E+S Brazil, high diversity in Colombia; Govenia ~24 spp. native and endemic to CAM (exc. Belize), the Greater Antilles, and tropical SAM S to Peru, NW Argentina, Paraguay, and S Brazil (exc. NE Brazil); Grobya 5 spp. endemic genus of E+S Brazil; Guarianthe 3 spp. native to CAM, Colombia, Venezuela, and intro Ecuador; Hofmeisterella 2 spp. NW SAM endemic genera from Venezuela W to Peru, also in Bolivia; Homalopetalum 9 spp. neoendemics of the West Indies, CAM, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, S+SE Brazil; Horichia monospecific endemic of Panama; Huntleya 17 spp. neoendemic genus of epiphytes of wet cloud forests from Guatemala S to Peru, Bolivia, and N+E+S Brazil, excluding El Salvador, Suriname, and French Guiana; Ionopsis 6 spp. endemic to lowland tropics from Florida, West Indies, Mexico, and S to Paraguay; Isabelia 3 spp. endemic epiphytes of NE Brazil S to N Argentina exc. Uruguay; Ixyophora 8 spp. W SAM endemic genus of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Jacquiniella ~9 spp. Mexico + neoendemics native to CAM, the Greater Antilles, and N SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil; Kefersteinia 65 spp. neoendemic genus from S Mexico S to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Suriname, and French Guiana, mostly epiphytes of the Andes of Colombia and Ecuador; Kegeliella 3 spp. neoendemic genus (1 extends into S Mexico) from Guatemala S to Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, French Guiana, and N Brazil, excluding Honduras, and also in Trinidad-Tobago; Lacaena 2 spp. Mexico & neoendemic genus of CAM and Colombia; Lankesteriana 20 spp. Mexico and neoendemic genera native to Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, and Costa Rica S through tropical SAM to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil; Leochilus 9 spp. neoendemics from S Mexico S through CAM to Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and N+NE Brazil; Lepanthes ~1190 spp. neoendemics of the Antilles, CAM S to Peru, Bolivia, and N+NE Brazil; Lepanthopsis 50 spp. neoendemics mostly in the Andes and Caribbean, also CAM and SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil (exc. Suriname); Leptotes 10 spp. SAM endemic genus of E+S Brazil, Paraguay, and NE Argentina; Liparis ~35 spp. of this cosmopolitan genus are found throughout the neotropical region, excluding N+C Chile and Uruguay; Lockhartia 32 spp. neoendemic from S Mexico through CAM and tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil; Loefgrenianthus monospecific narrow endemic of S+SE Brazil; Lueckelia monospecific endemic of Peru, N+SE Brazil, and Bolivia; Lueddemannia 3 spp. NW SAM endemic of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru; Lycaste ~39 spp. neoendemics of CAM and tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, and N+C Brazil (exc. the E); Lycomormium 5 spp. W SAM endemics of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru; Macradenia 13 spp. largely neoendemic but from S Florida and S Mexico, S through CAM (exc. El Salvador) to Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and S Brazil; Macroclinium 48 spp. neoendemics from S Mexico S through CAM and tropical SAM to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil; Madisonia 10 spp. neoendemic genus of Jamaica, Trinidad-Tobago, and tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, and N+E Brazil; Malaxis ~70 spp. native to CAM, the Antilles, and tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, and N Argentina; Masdevallia 656 spp. neoendemic genera from S. Mexico S through CAM to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil, most at high altitudes in the Andes (2500-4000 m); Maxillaria ~650 spp. mostly neoendemic epiphytes found from FL and Mexico S through CAM and SAM to Peru, Bolivia, and NE Argentina (exc. Uruguay); Meiracyllium 1 sp. native to Guatemala; Miltonia 12 spp. E SAM endemics of Brazil (exc. N), Paraguay, and NE Argentina; Miltoniopsis 5 spp. neoendemic genus of wet cloud forests of CAM, Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, NW Venezuela, Peru, and Bolivia; Monophyllorchis 6 spp., a N neoendemic genus from Nicaragua S to Colombia and Ecuador; Mormodes ~83 spp. mostly neoendemic genus of CAM and tropical SAM lowland rainforests S to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil; Myoxanthus 56 spp. neoendemic genus from S Mexico S through CAM and SAM to Peru, Bolivia, N+E+S Brazil (excluding French Guiana); Myrmecophila ~ 5 spp. native to CAM, Colombia, and Venezuela and intro to Cuba and extinct in Aruba.

Epidendroideae in the Neotropics N-Q:

Nemaconia 4 spp. native to CAM, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, S+SE Brazil; Neocogniauxia 2 spp. narrow island endemics of the Dominican Republic, Jamaica; Neogardneria monospecific endemic of SE Brazil; Neomoorea monospecific endemic of Panama and Colombia; Nidema 2 spp. native to CAM, the Greater Antilles, Trinidad-Tobago, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and N Brazil; Notylia 55 spp., neoendemics of CAM, Trinidad-Tobago, and SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil, generally found from 0-900m; Notyliopsis monospecific narrow endemic of Colombia; Nothostele 2 spp. narrow endemics of C+SE Brazil; Octomeria 171 spp. neoendemic genus of Honduras S to Peru, Bolivia, NE Argentina, and Brazil, plus Cuba and Belize; Oestlundia 1 sp. native Guatemala S to Colombia, Venezuela, and Peru (exc. Panama); Oliveriana 15 spp. N+W SAM endemics of Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Oncidium 335 spp. neoendemics of Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Lesser Antilles, CAM, and tropical SAM S to Peru and N Argentina (exc. Uruguay); Ophidion 17 neoendemic spp. of Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Bolivia; Orleanesia 6 spp. tropical SAM endemic genera S to Bolivia, C+NE Brazil; Ornithocephalus ~55 spp. neoendemics from S Mexico S through CAM (exc. El Salvador), Trinidad-Tobago, Windward Islands, and tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil; Otoglossum 27 spp. neoendemic genus of Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, N Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Otostylis 2 spp. SAM endemic genus native to Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Peru, N+C Brazil; Pabstia 5 spp. narrow endemic genus of S+SE Brazil; Pabstiella 29 spp. neoendemic genus from Costa Rica S through to Peru, Bolivia, NE Argentina (exc. Uruguay); Palmorchis 38 spp. neoendemic genus from Nicaragua S to Peru and N Brazil; Paphinia 16 spp. neoendemic genus of Costa Rica S to Peru, Bolivia, and N Brazil; Papilionanthe 1 sp. intro to Cuba; Paradisanthus monospecific endemic of E+S Brazil; Peristeria 13 spp. neoendemic genus of Guatemala, Costa Rica S to Peru, Bolivia, N+NE Brazil; Pescatoria 21 spp. neoendemic genus from Costa Rica S to Peru and N Brazil; Phalaenopsis 1 sp. intro to Panama; Phloeophila 6 spp. neoendemic genus from S Mexico, Belize, Cuba, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Bolivia, and SE Brazil; Phymatidium 9 spp. E SAM endemic genus of E+S Brazil, Paraguay, and NE Argentina; Platyrhiza monospecific endemic of S+SE Brazil; Platystele 124 spp. neoendemic genus from S+C Mexico S through CAM, Cuba, and SAM to Bolivia and N+SE Brazil; Plectrophora 10 spp. neoendemic genus from S Mexico and Guatemala, Costa Rica S to Peru, Bolivia, and C Brazil; Pleurothallis ~590+ spp. mostly neoendemic epiphytes found throughout CAM, the Greater and Lesser Antilles, and tropical SAM S to Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil (exc. C Brazil); Pleurothallopsis 21 spp. neoendemic genus of Guatemala, Nicaragua S to Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, and E Brazil; Pogoniopsis 2 spp. endemic genus of E+S Brazil; Polycycnis 15 spp. neoendemic genus of Honduras, Costa Rica S to Colombia, Venezuela E to French Guiana, plus NE Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Polyotidium monospecific endemic to Colombia, Venezuela, and N Brazil; Polystachya ~15 spp. native to CAM, the Greater and Lesser Antilles, and tropical SAM S to Bolivia, N Argentina (exc. Uruguay); Ponera 2 spp. native to Guatemala and El Salvador (also in Mexico); Porroglossum 59 spp. N+W SAM endemic to the Andes, mostly from Venezuela W to Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Promenaea is monospecific and endemic to E+S Brazil; Prosthechea ~128 spp. Mexico and neoendemics are found throughout CAM, the Antilles, and tropical SAM S to Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil; Pseudolaelia 14 spp. narrow endemic genus of E Brazil; Psilochilus 19 spp. neoendemics from S Mexico through CAM, the Antilles, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, and N+E+S Brazil; Psychilis 15 spp. mostly single island endemic genus of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Leeward Is., Puerto Rico; Psychopsis 4 spp. neoendemic genus Costa Rica S to Peru, Bolivia, N Brazil, excluding Guyana and including Trinidad-Tobago; Pterostemma 5 spp. narrow endemic genus of Colombia and Ecuador; Pygmaeorchis 2 spp. narrow endemics of SE Brazil; Quekettia 7 spp. N SAM endemic genus S to Peru, Bolivia, N+NE Brazil; Quisqueya 4 spp. single-island endemic genus of Hispaniola.

Epidendroideae in the Neotropics R-Z:

Rauhiella 3 spp. narrow endemic genus of E Brazil; Restrepia 69 S Mexico and neoendemic spp. native to CAM (exc. Belize), Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, mostly in the Andes; Restrepiella 3 spp. mostly neoendemic genus of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Colombia, and SE Brazil; Rhyncholaelia 2 spp. Mexico and CAM endemic native to Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras; Rhynchostele ~10 spp. native to CAM (exc. Belize) and Venezuela; Rodriguezia 46 spp. neoendemic (and 1 in S Mexico) of the Windward Islands, Nicaragua S to Bolivia, NE Argentina (exc. Uruguay) with many endemic to Brazil; Rossioglossum 12 spp. Mexico & N neoendemic genus of CAM (exc. Belize), Trinidad-Tobago, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru; Sanderella 2 spp. SAM endemic genus of Brazil (exc. N), Bolivia, and N Argentina; Scaphosepalum 60 spp. neoendemic genus from S Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guayana, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Scaphyglottis ~75 spp. neoendemics from S Mexico S through CAM and tropical SAM to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil, plus Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico; Schlimia 6 spp. neoendemic genus of Costa Rica, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Schunkea monospecific narrow endemic of SE Brazil; Seegeriella 3 spp. W SAM endemics of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Sobralia ~190 spp. mostly terrestrial neoendemics from CAM and tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil; Solenidium 3 spp. N SAM endemic genus S to Peru, Bolivia, C & NE Brazil (exc. Suriname); Soterosanthus monospecific endemic of Colombia and Ecuador; Spathoglottis 1? sp. intro to the Greater and Lesser Antilles; Specklinia 117 spp. Mexico & neoendemic genus of CAM, the Greater Antilles, and tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, Brazil (exc. C), and NE Argentina; Stanhopea ~73 spp. neoendemics from Mexico S to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil (exc. C); Stelis ~1322 spp. Mexico & neoendemics of CAM, the Antilles, and tropical SAM S to Bolivia and Brazil; Stenia 22 spp. N SAM endemic of Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, N+NE Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Suarezia monospecific endemic of Ecuador; Sudamerlycaste (or syn. Ida) 45 spp. neoendemic genus of the Greater Antilles, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and SE Brazil; Sutrina 2 spp. W SAM endemic genus of Peru and Bolivia; Systeloglossum 5 spp. neoendemic genus of Costa Rica S to Ecuador and Peru: Tamayorkis 1 sp. native to Guatemala; Teagueia 18 spp. W SAM endemic genera of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru; Telipogon ~255 spp. neoendemic genera of Guatemala, Hispaniola, Nicaragua S to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Venezuela; Tetramicra 10 spp. mostly endemic to the Greater and Lesser Antilles and the Bahamas, also in FL and French Guiana; Thysanoglossa 3 spp. narrow endemic genera of SE Brazil; Tolumnia 30 spp. Caribbean endemic genus of the Greater and Lesser Antilles, Bahamas, and FL; Tomzanonia monospecific narrow endemic of Haiti; Trevoria 5 spp. neoendemic genera of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia; Trichocentrum ~93 spp. mostly neoendemic epiphytes from Mexico and Florida S through CAM, much of the Greater and Lesser Antilles, and tropical SAM S to Bolivia and N Argentina; Trichoceros 10 spp. W SAM endemic genera from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Trichopilia 47 spp. neoendemic genus from S Mexico S through CAM and SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil, also in most of the Greater Antilles and Trinidad-Tobago; Trichosalpinx 38 spp. neo & Mex-endemic native to CAM, Cuba, and SAM S to Bolivia, N+NE Brazil; Triphora ~18 spp. native to CAM (exc. Belize), the Antilles, and tropical SAM S to N Argentina exc. Chile, Peru, and Uruguay; Trisetella 29 spp. neoendemics from Costa Rica S to Bolivia and N Brazil, excluding Suriname; Trizeuxis monospecific neoendemic from Costa Rica S to Bolivia and Brazil, excluding Suriname and French Guiana; Tropidia 1 sp. of an otherwise Asian genus native to CAM (exc. Belize, El Salvador, and Panama), the Greater Antilles, Galapagos, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and C Brazil; Uleiorchis 4 spp. neoendemic genera of Honduras Costa Rica S to Peru and N Brazil (exc. Ecuador), plus S+SE Brazil; Vasqueziella monospecific endemic of Bolivia and Peru; Vitekorchis 4 spp. NW SAM endemic genus of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Warczewiczella 11 spp. neoendemic genus of Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical SAM S to Bolivia, N+E+S Brazil; Warmingia 4 spp. neoendemic genus of Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Bolivia, NE Argentina, E+S Brazil; Warrea 4 spp. neoendemic genus from S Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, SE+S Brazil, and NE Argentina; Warreella 2 spp. N SAM endemic genus of Colombia, Venezuela; Warreopsis monospecific neoendemic from Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador; Wullschlaegelia 2 spp. neoendemic from S Mexico S through Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica S through SAM to Bolivia, NE Argentina (exc. Uruguay); Xerorchis 2 spp. N SAM endemic genus of Colombia S to Peru, Bolivia, E to N+C Brazil; Xylobium 18 spp. neoendemic from S Mexico S to Bolivia and Brazil, also in the Greater Antilles, Trinidad-Tobago, and the Windward Is.; Zelenkoa monospecific endemic of Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru; Zootrophion 40 spp. neoendemic genus of Nicaragua S to Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, S+SE Brazil, and the Greater Antilles; Zygopetalum 6 spp. SAM endemic genus of E+S Brazil, also Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and NE Argentina; Zygosepalum 3 spp. N SAM endemic genus S to peru, C+NE Brazil; Zygostates 32 spp. tropical SAM endemic genus S to Bolivia, NE Argentina (exc. N+C Brazil, Uruguay).

Orchidoideae in the Neotropics:

Aa 26 spp. neoendemic genus of Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, N Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and N Argentina; Altensteinia 8 spp. W SAM endemic of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Aracamunia monospecific narrow endemic of S Venezuela; Aulosepalum 5-7 spp. native from S Mexico S to Costa Rica, excluding Belize; Beloglottis 7 spp. native to the Dominican Republic, Trinidad-Tobago, Cayman Islands (1 critically endangered sp.), CAM, Colombia, Venezuela E to French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, C Brazil, and NW Argentina; Bipinnula 10 SAM endemic spp. native to Chile, NE Argentina, Uruguay, and S Brazil; Buchtienia 4 spp. SAM endemic genus of Ecuador, Peru, N+C+SE Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay; Chloraea 54 spp. SAM endemic genus to Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, C+S Chile, Uruguay, and S Brazil; Coccineorchis 8 spp. Mexico and neoendemic genus of CAM, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Codonorchis 2 spp. endemic SAM, 1 in S Brazil other in Patagonia region; Cotylolabium monospecific narrow endemic of SE Brazil; Cranichis 92 spp. endemic from FL, USA and Mexico, S through CAM, West Indies, N and NW SAM S to Bolivia, plus Atlantic SC Brazil; Cyclopogon 107 spp. endemic from FL and Mexico S through CAM, West Indies, and SAM S to Bolivia and N Argentina and the Galapagos, includes 2 spp. critical endangered in the Cayman Islands; Cybebus monospecific endemic of Colombia and Ecuador; Deiregyne 1-2 spp. native to Guatemala and Honduras, most are endemic to Mexico; Dichromanthus 1-2 spp. mostly Mexican genus native to Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras; Domingoa 4 spp. endemic S Mexico S to Nicaragua (exc. Belize), Cuba, and Dominican Republic; Draconanthes 10 spp. W SAM endemic genus of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Dracula 147 spp. endemic to the moist forests from S Mexico to Peru (Exc. El Salvador and Belize), with many in Colombia and Ecuador lowlands; Dresslerella 14 spp. neoendemic from Guatemala S to Ecuador and Peru (exc. El Salvador); Dressleria 13 spp. neoendemic from Nicaragua S to Ecuador and Peru; Dryadella 54 spp. neoendemic from S Mexico S to Bolivia, Paraguay, and S Brazil but excluding Guyana to French Guiana; Eltroplectris 16 spp. endemic to S FL, S through the West Indies, and tropical SAM to Peru and Argentina (exc. Uruguay); Espinhassoa 2 spp. narrow endemics of SE Brazil; Fuertesiella monospecific endemic of Cuba and the Dominican Republic; Funkiella 16 spp. native to CAM (exc. Belize and Panama), Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Venezuela; Galeoglossum 1 sp. native to Guatemala; Galeottiella 1 sp. native to Guatemala; Gavilea 17 spp. endemic to C+S Chile, NE+S Argentina including Patagonia region; Gomphichis 34 spp. neoendemic genus from Costa Rica S to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Guyana; Goodyera ~15 spp. native to CAM and Hispaniola, including 2 endemics in Costa Rica (1) and Guatemala (1); Habenaria 200+ spp. native to the entire neotropic region; Hapalorchis 13 spp. neoendemic genus of Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Greater Antilles, Colombia E to French Guiana, plus E+S Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Helenoma 4 spp. N SAM endemic to Colombia, E to Suriname, N Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru; Hemipilia 4 spp. N SAM endemic S to Peru and N Brazil, excluding French Guiana; Kionophyton 1 sp., mostly a Mexican genus extending into Guatemala; Laelia ~14 spp. of a Mexican & neoendemic genus found throughout CAM and tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil, also in Cuba, Jamaica, and Trinidad-Tobago; Lankesterella 11 spp. neoendemic genus of Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, NE Argentina, E+S Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela; Lyroglossa 2 spp. neoendemics of Belize, Colombia, Venezuela, Guayana E to French Guiana, plus C+SE+S Brazil, and Paraguay; Mesadenus 3 spp. native to Guatemala and Belize, the Bahamas, and the Greater Antilles; Microchilus ~260 spp. neoendemic from Mexico S to Peru, Bolivia, and NE Argentina (excluding Uruguay), also in the Bahamas, Galapagos, and the Greater and Lesser Antilles; Myrosmodes 14 spp. W SAM endemic to Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, N Chile, and NW Argentina; Odontorrhynchus 5 spp. SAM endemic genus of Peru, Bolivia, N Argentina, and C+S Chile; Pelexia ~90 spp. mostly neoendemic genus of CAM, the Antilles, and tropical SAM S to Peru and N Argentina; Platanthera 2 spp. native to Cuba, Costa Rica; Ponthieva ~72 spp. mostly neoendemics native throughout CAM (exc. Belize), the Antilles, Colombia, Venezuela, Guayana, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and NW Argentina; Porphyrostachys 2 spp. W SAM endemic genus of Ecuador and Peru; Prescottia 24 spp. from FL and Mexico S through CAM, the Antilles, and tropical SAM S to Peru and N Argentina; Pseudocentrum 17 spp. neoendemic genus of the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Costa Rica S to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Pseudogoodyera monospecific endemic of NW Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Cuba; Pterichis 45 spp. neoendemic genus of Jamaica, Costa Rica S to Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and NW Argentina; Pteroglossa 14 spp. neoendemic genus from Chiapas Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, C+E+S Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and N Argentina; Quechua monospecific endemic genus of Peru; Sacoila 9 spp. mostly neoendemic genera from FL and Mexico S through CAM, the Antilles, and tropical SAM S to Peru and N Argentina; Sarcoglottis 57 spp. Mex and neoendemic genera of CAM and tropical SAM S to Bolivia and N Argentina, also in Trinidad-Tobago and Windward Is.; Sauroglossum 11 spp. SAM endemic genus of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil; Schiedeella ~10 spp. native to Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic; Sertifera 11 spp. NW SAM endemics of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru; Skeptrostachys 10 spp. SAM endemics of Suriname, Brazil (exc. N), Paraguay, N Argentina, and Uruguay; Solenocentrum 4 spp. neoendemic genus of Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, and Bolivia; Spiranthes 4 spp. found S into CAM S to Costa Rica (exc. El Salvador), and the Greater Antilles; Sievekingia 14 spp. neoendemic genera Nicaragua S to Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Ecuador, peru, and Bolivia; Stenoptera 6 spp. SAM endemic of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and N Brazil; Stenorrhynchos 7 spp. neoendemic genera from S Mexico S to Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru, also in most of the Greater Antilles; Stenotyla 9 spp. neoendemic genera from S Mexico S to Panama, excluding Belize; Thelyschista monospecific endemic of NE Brazil; Zeuxine 1 sp. intro into SE Brazil, NW Argentina, Cuba, and Jamaica.

Vanilloideae in the Neotropics:

Cleistes 59 spp. neoendemic genus from Costa Rica S through SAM to Peru, Bolivia, and NE Argentina, exc. Uruguay; Duckeella 8 spp. N SAM endemic of Colombia, Venezuela, and N Brazil, doubtful in Guyana; Epistephium 28 spp. neoendemic genus of Belize, Costa Rica, tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, NE Argentina (exc. Uruguay); Eurystyles 23 spp. endemic genus from Guatemala S to Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil (exc. N), NE Argentina, and Paraguay; Isochilus ~10 spp. native to CAM, the Greater and Lesser Antilles, and SAM S to Peru and N Argentina (exc. N Brazil and Uruguay); Vanilla ~60 spp. native to CAM, the Antilles and Bahamas, tropical SAM S to Bolivia and NE Argentina (exc. Uruguay), including 20+ endemic to Brazil, and V. planifolia native to Belize and Mexico.  

Patagonia Orchidaceae Genera Include:

Only the Orchidoideae subfamily is represented in the Patagonia region:

Orchidoideae Subfamily in Patagonia:

Bipinnula 1 sp. native to Bio Bio, Los Rios, Chile; Brachystele 1-2 spp. native to C+S Chile and S Argentina; Chloraea ~ 15 spp. native throughout the region S to Tierra Del Fuego, S Magallanes, and Falkland Islands; Codonorchis 1 sp. native throughout the region, including Tierra del Fuego, S. Magallanes, and Falkland Islands; Gavilea 11 spp. native throughout Patagonia inc. Tierra del Fuego, S Magallanes, and Falkland Islands; Habenaria 1 sp. Neuquén, Argentina and Bio Bio S to Los Lagos, Chile; Odontorrhynchus 1-2 spp. native to temperate Chile.

Additional Information and References

• Visit Lyrae’s Dictionary of Botanical Terms to learn the terminology of botanists. Note that if you hover over most of the words in the articles, you can also get definitions from them there.
• Willis, Lyrae (Unpublished). Plant Families of North America. This is where all of the family descriptions come from. Below should be most of my references for this, along with my own personal observations throughout North America.
• Canadensys: Acadia University, Université de Montréal Biodiversity Centre, University of Toronto Mississauga, University of British Columbia. http://data.canadensys.net/explorer (accessed 2020 – current)
• FNA (1993+). Flora of North America. https://floranorthamerica.org/Main_Page. Accessed 2022-current.
• GBIF.org (2020+), GBIF Home Page. Available from: https://www.gbif.org
• iNaturalist.org (2020+). https://www.inaturalist.org/. Accessed 2020-current.
• Naturalista: CONABIO http://www.naturalista.mx (Accessed 2020–current).
• Neotropikey: Milliken, W., Klitgård, B., & Baracat, A. eds. (2009+). Neotropikey: Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics. www.kew.org/neotropikey.com (accessed 2020 – current).
• Patagonia Wildflowers: Wildflower Identification Site. https://patagoniawildflowers.org/ Accessed throughout the fall of 2020.
• POWO (2019+). Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet: http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/
• Stevens, P. F. (2001+). Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 14, July 2017 [more or less continuously updated since]. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/
• USDA, NRCS. 2020. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 2 June 2020). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC, USA; Accessed 2020-present.
• Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M.J. (1992+). The Families of Flowering Plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 2nd May 2020. delta-intkey.com. Accessed spring through fall of 2020.
• WFO (2022): World Flora Online. Published on the Internet: http://www.worldfloraonline.org. Accessed Spring 2022 – current
• Zhang, H., Tang, M., Wang, Y., Pan, R., & Deng, H. (2026). Patterns of Orchid Diversity and Their Potential Habitat Under Climate Change in Chongqing, China. Biology, 15(4), 351. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15040351.

My Current Plant Family Education Fundraiser

I am currently seeking funding to expand my website and SEO capabilities as I keep adding new families, and I am also looking to invest in a new macro lens, as I will soon be adding floral dissections to some of the families. Donate to support native plant education using the GoFundMe link, also at the bottom of the page.

Copyright Information

The information and the photos on this site are free to use for educational purposes, with proper attribution. For other uses, please contact me first.

You can cite this site as Willis, Lyrae (2020+). Lyrae’s Nature Blog – Plant Families of North America. https://lyraenatureblog.com/

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