List of natural Orchidaceae genera

This taxonomy undergoes constant change, mainly through evidence from DNA study. Orchids were traditionally defined by morphological similarity (structure of their flowers and other parts). However, recent changes to nomenclature have been driven primarily by DNA studies and also by re-examination of herbarium specimens. This has led to a reduction of genera and species as well as re-circumscription of sub-families, tribes and sub-tribes. Orchid taxonomy is still being revised and each year about another 150 new species are being discovered. The list of genera alone currently stands just short of 1000 entries.

From a cladistic point of view, the orchid family is considered to be monophyletic, i.e. the group incorporates all the taxa derived from an ancestral group.

The taxonomy of the orchids is explained on the page Taxonomy of the Orchid family.

There are five recognized subfamilies:

Epidendrum ibaguense

Epidendrum parkinsonianum

Epidendrum stamfordianum

Maxillaria rufescens

Maxillaria tenuifolia

Rhynchostlis gigantea

Sarcochilus hartmannii

Schomburgkia undulata

Late-flowering Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes magnicamporum)

Nodding ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes cernua)

Stenoglottis longifolia

Moon Orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis)

Dendrobium hybrid

Phantom orchid (Cephalanthera rubra var. alba)

Thrixspermum saruwatarii

Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula)

Sogo Cherry (Doritaenopsis)

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