orchid family

noun

1. the plant family Orchidaceae, characterized by terrestrial or epiphytic herbaceous plants having simple, parallel-veined, usually alternate leaves, complex and often large and showy flowers pollinated primarily by insects, and fruit in the form of a capsule containing numerous minute seeds, and including calypso, fringed orchis, lady's-slipper, pogonia, rattlesnake plantain, vanilla, as well as numerous tropical orchids such as those of the genera Cattleya, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis, and Vanda.

Example Sentences

The orchid family has a few curious saprophytic representatives on the lower slopes.

From Project Gutenberg

Vanilla belongs to the orchid family, and is the only member which possesses any economical value.

From Project Gutenberg

More ignorant even than others, he will cherish all the superstitions and illusions which environ the orchid family.

From Project Gutenberg