GLOSSARY

Alliance A group of closely related orchid genera.

Basal Of or from the base.

Bifoliate With two leaves, usually when referring to leaves atop a pseudobulb.

Endemic Native & found only in one specific region or country.

Epiphyte A plant which grows on a host plant but is not parasitic.

Eye A growth bud.

f. An abbreviation of the word forma.

Floriferous Free flowering.

Indigenous Native to a specific region or country rather than introduced.

Inflorescence The flowering part of a plant, such as a flower spike.

Keiki From the Hawaiian word for child, this is literally a baby plant. Keikis are freely produced on some phalaenopsis species, growing either on the flower spikes or in the form of basal keikis, rising from the base of the plant.

Lithophyte A plant which grows on plants.

Monotypic A genus in which only one singular species is known to exist.

Node A joint on a stem.

Peloric A genetic mutation in which the petals or sepals attempt to mimic the lip of an orchid.

Sympodial A term used to describe a plant that produces new growth from the base of previous growths or pseudobulbs.

Terrestrial Growing in or on the ground in soil or amongst leaf litter.

Unifoliate With one leaf, usually when referring to leaves atop a pseudobulb.

var. Short for variant.

Velamen A thick layer of cells that cover & protect the roots of epiphytic orchids.