orchidaceous plant

/ˈɔrkəˌdeɪʃəs plænt/

Other forms: orchidaceous plants

Definitions of orchidaceous plant

1. noun

   any of numerous plants of the orchid family usually having flowers of unusual shapes and beautiful colors
   synonyms: orchid

   types:

   orchis

   any of various deciduous terrestrial orchids having fleshy tubers and flowers in erect terminal racemes

   aerides

   any orchid of the genus Aerides

   angrecum

   any of various spectacular orchids of the genus Angraecum having dark green leathery leaves and usually nocturnally scented white or ivory flowers

   jewel orchid

   any of several delicate Asiatic orchids grown especially for their velvety leaves with metallic white or gold veining

   Aplectrum hyemale, adam-and-eve, puttyroot

   North American orchid bearing a single leaf and yellowish-brown flowers

   arethusa

   any of several bog orchids of the genus Arethusa having 1 or 2 showy flowers

   bletia

   any of various orchids of the genus Bletia having pseudobulbs and erect leafless racemes of large purple or pink flowers

   Bletia striata, Bletilla striata

   Japanese orchid with white-striped leaves and slender erect racemes of rose to magenta flowers; often cultivated; sometimes placed in genus Bletia

   brassavola

   any of various tropical American orchids with usually solitary fleshy leaves and showy white to green nocturnally fragrant blossoms solitary or in racemes of up to 7

   Brassia lawrenceana, spider orchid

   South American orchid with spiderlike pale-yellow to pale-green flowers

   Brassia verrucosa, spider orchid

   Central American orchid having spiderlike flowers with prominent green warts

   caladenia

   any of various orchids of the genus Caladenia

   calanthe

   any of various showy orchids of the genus Calanthe having white or yellow or rose-colored flowers and broad leaves folded lengthwise

   Calopogon pulchellum, Calopogon tuberosum, grass pink

   an orchid

   Calypso bulbosa, calypso, fairy-slipper

   rare north temperate bog orchid bearing a solitary white to pink flower marked with purple at the tip of an erect reddish stalk above 1 basal leaf

   Catasetum macrocarpum, jumping orchid

   orchid having both male and female flowers in the same raceme; when a sensitive projection at the base of the column of the male flower is touched the pollen is suddenly ejected

   cattleya

   any orchid of the genus Cattleya characterized by a three-lobed lip enclosing the column; among the most popular and most extravagantly beautiful orchids known

   helleborine

   any of several orchids of the genus Cephalanthera

   Cleistes divaricata, Pogonia divaricata, funnel-crest rosebud orchid, spreading pogonia

   orchid of northeastern United States with magenta-pink flowers having funnel-shaped lip; sometimes placed in genus Pogonia

   Cleistes rosea, Pogonia rosea, rosebud orchid

   orchid of central and northern South America having 1- to 3-blossomed racemes of large showy rose-colored flowers; sometimes placed in genus Pogonia

   Coeloglossum bracteatum, satyr orchid

   orchid with broad ovate leaves and long-bracted green very irregular flowers

   Coeloglossum viride, frog orchid

   orchid having hooded long-bracted green to yellow-green flowers suffused with purple

   coelogyne

   any of various orchids of the genus Coelogyne with: clusters of fragrant lacy snow-white flowers; salmon-pink solitary flowers; chainlike racemes of topaz and chocolate brown flowers; spikes of delicate white spice-scented flowers; emerald green flowers marked with blue-black

   coral root

   a wildflower of the genus Corallorhiza growing from a hard mass of rhizomes associated with a fungus that aids in absorbing nutrients from the forest floor

   helmet orchid, helmetflower

   any of several orchids of the genus Coryanthes having racemes of a few musky-scented waxy flowers with a helmet-shaped lip process

   swan orchid, swan-flower, swan-neck, swanflower, swanneck

   any of several orchids of the genus Cycnoches having slender arching columns of flowers suggesting the neck of a swan

   cymbid, cymbidium

   any of various plants of the genus Cymbidium having narrow leaves and a long drooping cluster of numerous showy and variously colored boat-shaped flowers; extensively hybridized and cultivated as houseplants and important florists' flowers

   cypripedia

   a plant or flower of the genus Cypripedium

   ladies' slipper, lady's slipper, lady-slipper, slipper orchid

   any of several chiefly American wildflowers having an inflated pouchlike lip; difficult or impossible to cultivate in the garden

   marsh orchid

   any of several orchids of the genus Dactylorhiza having fingerlike tuberous roots; Europe and Mediterranean region

   Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Dactylorhiza maculata fuchsii, common spotted orchid

   European orchid having lanceolate leaves spotted purple and pink to white or mauve flowers spotted or lined deep red or purple

   dendrobium

   a plant of the genus Dendrobium having stems like cane and usually showy racemose flowers

   disa

   any orchid of the genus Disa; beautiful orchids with dark green leaves and usually hooded flowers; much prized as emblematic flowers in their native regions

   Eburophyton austinae, phantom orchid, snow orchid

   waxy white nearly leafless plant with stems in clusters and racemes of white flowers; northwestern United States to northern California and east to Idaho

   Cattleya citrina, Encyclia citrina, tulip orchid

   Mexican epiphytic orchid with glaucous grey-green leaves and lemon- to golden-yellow flowers appearing only partially opened; sometimes placed in genus Cattleya

   Encyclia tampensis, Epidendrum tampense, butterfly orchid

   orchid of Florida and the Bahamas having showy brightly colored flowers; sometimes placed in genus Epidendrum

   Encyclia venosa, Epidendrum venosum, butterfly orchid, butterfly orchis

   Mexican epiphytic orchid having pale green or yellow-green flowers with white purple-veined lip

   epidendron

   any of various orchids of the genus Epidendrum

   helleborine

   any of various orchids of the genus Epipactis

   tongue-flower, tongueflower

   orchid having blue to purple flowers with tongue-shaped or strap-shaped protuberances (calli) at the lip base

   helleborine, rattlesnake plantain

   any of several small temperate and tropical orchids having mottled or striped leaves and spikes of small yellowish-white flowers in a twisted raceme

   Gymnadenia conopsea, fragrant orchid

   European orchid having dense spikes of fragrant pink or lilac or red flowers with conspicuous spurs

   Gymnadenia odoratissima, short-spurred fragrant orchid

   similar to Gymnadenia conopsea but with smaller flowers on shorter stems and having much shorter spurs

   fringed orchid, fringed orchis

   any of several summer-flowering American orchids distinguished by a fringed or lacerated lip

   frog orchid

   any of several green orchids of the genus Habenaria

   rein orchid, rein orchis

   any of several American wildflowers with a kidney-shaped lip

   Hexalectris spicata, crested coral root

   orchid with yellowish-brown flowers with dark veins; southeastern Arizona to the eastern United States

   Hexalectris warnockii, Texas purple spike

   orchid with slender nearly leafless reddish-brown stems with loose racemes of reddish-brown flowers; of open brushy woods of southeastern Arizona and central Texas

   Himantoglossum hircinum, lizard orchid

   an orchid of the genus Himantoglossum

   laelia

   any of various spectacular plants of the genus Laelia having showy flowers in many colors

   liparis

   an orchid of the genus Liparis having few leaves and usually fairly small yellow-green or dull purple flowers in terminal racemes

   twayblade

   an orchid of the genus Liparis having a pair of leaves

   Liparis loeselii, fen orchid, fen orchis

   small terrestrial orchid of eastern North America and Europe having two nearly basal leaves and dull yellow-green racemose flowers

   Listera convallarioides, broad-leaved twayblade

   small orchid with two elliptic leaves and a slender raceme of small green flowers; western North America

   Listera cordata, lesser twayblade

   orchid having two triangular leaves and a short lax raceme of green to rust-colored flowers with the lip flushed mauve; Europe and Asia and North America and Greenland

   Listera ovata, twayblade

   orchid having a pair of ovate leaves and a long slender raceme of green flowers sometimes tinged red-brown; Europe to central Asia

   Malaxis ophioglossoides, Malaxis-unifolia, green adder's mouth

   North American orchid having a solitary leaf and flowers with threadlike petals

   masdevallia

   any of numerous orchids of the genus Masdevallia; tufted evergreen often diminutive plants whose flowers in a remarkable range of colors usually resemble a tricorn with sepals fused at the base to form a tube

   maxillaria

   any of numerous orchids of the genus Maxillaria often cultivated for their large brilliantly colored solitary flowers

   pansy orchid

   any of various orchids of the genus Miltonia having solitary or loosely racemose showy broadly spreading flowers

   odontoglossum

   any of numerous and diverse orchids of the genus Odontoglossum having racemes of few to many showy usually large flowers in many colors

   butterfly orchid, butterfly plant, dancing lady orchid, oncidium

   any orchid of the genus Oncidium: characterized by slender branching sprays of small yellow and brown flowers; often grown as houseplants

   Ophrys apifera, bee orchid

   European orchid whose flowers resemble bumble bees in shape and color

   Ophrys insectifera, Ophrys muscifera, fly orchid

   European orchid whose flowers resemble flies

   spider orchid

   any of several European orchids of the genus Ophrys

   Venus' slipper, Venus's shoe, Venus's slipper

   any of various orchids of the genus Paphiopedilum having slender flower stalks bearing 1 to several waxy flowers with pouchlike lips

   phaius

   an orchid of the genus Phaius having large plicate leaves and racemes of showy flowers

   moth orchid, moth plant

   any of various orchids of the genus Phalaenopsis having often drooping glossy broad obovate or oval leaves usually dark green flushed purple or mottled grey and silver

   rattlesnake orchid

   any of various orchids of the genus Pholidota having numerous white to brown flowers in spiraling racemes clothed in slightly inflated bracts and resembling a rattlesnake's tail

   Habenaria bifolia, Platanthera bifolia, lesser butterfly orchid

   south European orchid having fragrant greenish-white flowers; sometimes placed in genus Habenaria

   Habenaria chlorantha, Platanthera chlorantha, greater butterfly orchid

   south European orchid with dark green flowers that are larger and less fragrant than Platanthera bifolia; sometimes placed in genus Habenaria

   Platanthera leucophea, prairie white-fringed orchid

   of central North America; a threatened species

   tangle orchid

   an orchid of the genus Plectorrhiza having tangled roots and long wiry stems bearing lax racemes of small fragrant green flowers

   Indian crocus

   any of several dwarf orchids of the genus Pleione bearing one or two solitary white or pink to magenta or occasionally yellow flowers with slender stalks

   pleurothallis

   any of numerous small tufted orchids of the genus Pleurothallis having leathery to fleshy leaves and racemes of 1 to many small flowers

   pogonia

   any hardy bog orchid of the genus Pogonia: terrestrial orchids having slender rootstocks and erect stems bearing one or a few leaves and a solitary terminal flower

   butterfly orchid

   any orchid of the genus Psychopsis: spectacular large tiger-striped orchids

   greenhood, helmet orchid

   any of numerous orchids of the genus Pterostylis having leaves in a basal rosette and green flowers often striped purple or brown or red with the dorsal sepal incurved to form a hood

   foxtail orchid

   any of various orchids of the genus Rhyncostylis having pink- to purple-marked white flowers in a dense cylindrical raceme

   Sarcochilus falcatus, orange-blossom orchid

   diminutive Australian orchid with loose racemes of fragrant white flowers with purple and orange markings on the lip

   sobralia

   any of various showy orchids of the genus Sobralia having leafy stems and bright-colored solitary or racemose flowers similar to those of genus Cattleya

   ladies' tresses, lady's tresses

   an orchid of the genus Spiranthes having slender often twisted spikes of white flowers

   stanhopea

   any of various orchids of the genus Stanhopea having a single large leaf and loose racemes of large fragrant flowers of various colors; Mexico to Brazil

   stelis

   any of various small tropical American orchids of the genus Stelis having long slender racemes of numerous small to minute flowers

   fly orchid

   any of several dwarf creeping orchids with small bizarre insect-like hairy flowers on slender stalks

   vanda

   any of numerous showy orchids of the genus Vanda having many large flowers in loose racemes

   vanilla

   any of numerous climbing plants of the genus Vanilla having fleshy leaves and clusters of large waxy highly fragrant white or green or topaz flowers

   Orchis mascula, early purple orchid, male orchis

   Eurasian orchid with showy pink or purple flowers in a loose spike

   Orchis papilionaceae, butterfly orchid, butterfly orchis

   Mediterranean orchid having usually purple flowers with a fan-shaped spotted or striped rose-red lip

   Orchis spectabilis, purple orchis, purple-hooded orchis, showy orchis

   North American orchid having a spike of violet-purple flowers mixed with white; sepals and petals form a hood

   Arethusa bulbosa, bog rose, dragon's mouth, wild pink

   a bog orchid with usually a solitary fragrant magenta pink blossom with a wide gaping corolla; Canada

   Caladenia cairnsiana, zebra orchid

   orchid with reddish linear leaves and panicle of purple-marked pale-yellow flowers with deep red or purple lip; southwestern Australia

   Cephalanthera rubra, red helleborine

   orchid of Mediterranean and Asia having a lax spike of bright rose-pink flowers

   Corallorhiza maculata, spotted coral root

   common coral root having yellowish- or reddish- or purplish-brown leafless stems bearing loose racemes of similarly colored flowers with white purple-spotted lips; Guatemala to Canada

   Corallorhiza striata, striped coral root

   nearly leafless wildflower with erect reddish-purple stems bearing racemes of pale pinkish and brownish-striped flowers; western Canada to Mexico

   Corallorhiza trifida, early coral root, pale coral root

   plant having clumps of nearly leafless pale yellowish to greenish stems bearing similarly colored flowers with white lower lips; northern New Mexico north through South Dakota and Washington to Alaska

   Cypripedium acaule, moccasin flower, nerveroot

   once common rose pink woodland orchid of eastern North America

   Cypripedium album, Cypripedium reginae, common lady's-slipper, showy lady slipper, showy lady's-slipper

   pale pink wild orchid of northeastern America having an inflated pouchlike lip

   Cypripedium arietinum, ram's-head, ram's-head lady's slipper

   orchid of northern North America having a brownish-green flower and red-and-white lip suggestive of a ram's head

   Cypripedium calceolus, Cypripedium parviflorum, yellow lady's slipper, yellow lady-slipper

   maroon to purple-brown orchid with yellow lip; Europe, North America and Japan

   California lady's slipper, Cypripedium californicum

   often having many yellow-green orchids with white pouches growing along streams and seeps of southwestern Oregon and northern California

   Cypripedium fasciculatum, clustered lady's slipper

   clusters of several short stems each having 2 broad leaves and 2-4 drooping brownish to greenish flowers with pouches mottled with purple; British Columbia to central California and northern Colorado

   Cypripedium montanum, mountain lady's slipper

   leafy plant having a few stems in a clump with 1 white and dull purple flower in each upper leaf axil; Alaska to northern California and Wyoming

   Epipactis helleborine

   European orchid with spikes of green and pinkish or purplish flowers

   Epipactis gigantea, chatterbox, giant helleborine, stream orchid

   orchid growing along streams or ponds of western North America having leafy stems and 1 greenish-brown and pinkish flower in the axil of each upper leaf

   Habenaria dilatata, bog candles, bog rein orchid

   orchid with spikes of many fragrant white flowers on erect leafy stems; of wet or boggy ground through most of the West and northern North America

   Habenaria albiflora, white fringed orchid, white fringed orchis

   bog orchid of eastern North America with a spike of pure white fringed flowers

   Habenaria elegans, elegant Habenaria

   slender inland rein orchid similar to coastal rein orchid but with pale greenish-yellow flowers

   Habenaria fimbriata, purple-fringed orchid, purple-fringed orchis

   North American orchid similar to Habenaria psycodes with larger paler flowers

   Habenaria greenei, coastal rein orchid

   stout orchid of central California to northern Washington having racemes of white fragrant bilaterally symmetrical flowers

   Habenaria hookeri, Hooker's orchid

   a long-spurred orchid with base leaves and petals converging under the upper sepal

   Habenaria lacera, green fringed orchis, ragged orchid, ragged orchis, ragged-fringed orchid

   fringed orchid of the eastern United States having a greenish flower with the lip deeply lacerated

   Habenaria leucophaea, prairie orchid, prairie white-fringed orchis

   orchid of boggy or wet lands of north central United States having racemes of very fragrant creamy or greenish white flowers

   Habenaria nivea, snowy orchid

   slender fringed orchid of eastern North America having white flowers

   Habenaria orbiculata, round-leaved rein orchid

   orchid having a raceme of large greenish-white flowers on a single flower stalk growing between two elliptic or round basal leaves lying on the ground; from northern Oregon and Montana across Canada to the eastern United States

   Habenaria peramoena, purple fringeless orchid, purple fringeless orchis

   orchid of northeastern and alpine eastern North America closely related to the purple fringed orchids but having rosy-purple or violet flowers with denticulate leaf divisions

   Habenaria psycodes, purple-fringed orchid, purple-fringed orchis

   North American orchid with clusters of fragrant purple fringed flowers

   Alaska rein orchid, Habenaria unalascensis

   similar to coastal rein orchid but with smaller flowers; Alaska to Baja California and east to the Dakotas and Colorado

   Ophrys sphegodes, early spider orchid

   spring-blooming spider orchid having a flower with yellow or green or pink sepals and a broad brown velvety lip

   Phalaenopsis amabilis, butterfly plant

   orchid having large elliptic to obovate fleshy leaves and fragrant pink-and-white flowers dotted with red

   Oncidium papilio kramerianum, Psychopsis krameriana

   orchid of South and Central America having flowers similar to but smaller than Psychopsis papilio; sometimes placed in genus Oncidium

   Oncidium papilio, Psychopsis papilio

   orchid of South America and Trinidad having large yellow and reddish-brown flowers; sometimes placed in genus Oncidium

   Spiranthes cernua, screw augur

   an orchid of the genus Spiranthes having tall erect densely flowered spiraling clusters of creamy white vanilla-scented flowers; widely distributed especially in low damp places of eastern and central North America

   Spiranthes romanzoffiana, hooded ladies' tresses

   orchid having dense clusters of gently spiraling creamy white flowers with 2 upper petals forming a hood; western North America

   Spiranthes porrifolia, western ladies' tresses

   similar to Spiranthes romanzoffiana;States

   European ladies' tresses, Spiranthes spiralis

   European orchid having shorter racemes of strongly spiraling snow-white flowers

   Vanda caerulea, blue orchid

   famous orchid of northern India having large pale to deep lilac-blue flowers

   Vanilla planifolia, vanilla orchid

   a climbing orchid bearing a podlike fruit yielding vanilla beans; widely cultivated from Florida southward throughout tropical America

   type of:

   flower

   a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms