A

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Abortive

ah-bor-tiv -- form or development is imperfect.

ACAULESENT

ak-aw-less-ent -- orchids that are, or appear to no true stem.

ACUMINATE

ak-kew-min-ayt -- describes a very sharp apex with long, straight or slightly concave sides.

Accrescent

ah-kress-ent -- increasing in size or length with age

Acicular

ah-sik-yu-lar -- needle shaped

Aculeate

ah-kyu-lee-ate -- prickly, sharp pointed.

ACUTE

ak-kewt -- ending sharply or abruptly, less than 90°

Acuminate

ah-kyu-mi-nate -- tapering to a slender point.

ADHERENT

ad-here-ent -- two dissimilar parts touching each other but not fused.

ADNATE

ad-nayt -- the attachment of two orchid parts either partially or completely fused.

ADVENTitiOUS

ad-ven-tish-us -- refers to buds and roots that appear from normal locations on the stem of a orchid.

AERIAL ROOT

air-ee-al root -- roots produced along the stem above ground, mainly by monopodial orchids, they usually do not enter the medium.

AGGREGATE

ag-greh-gayte -- forming a dense mass or grouping, clumped together, clustered

Alate

 ah- late -- being winged, having wig-like parts

ALBINO

al-bye-no -- flowers lack pigment, white flowers.

ALTERNATE

awl-ter-nayt -- arrangement of leaves/flowers on a stem or axis, not opposite each other.

AMORPHOUS

a-more-fuss -- having no regular or set form, formless.

AMPHIGEAN

am-fi-jee-an  -- the distribution of orchids, i.e., orchids that are found in both hemispheres

ANASTOMOSING

a-nass-toh-moh-zing -- interlacing or running together as the network of veins on a leaf.

ANCIPITOUS

an-sip-ih-tus -- having two edges and being flattened. some pseudobulbs have this characteristic, e.g. laelia rubens.

ANDROECIUM

an-dree-see-um – the male portion of the flower, i.e. the stamens.

ANGIOSPERM

an-jee-o-sperm -- the seeds are enclosed in a seed pod or fruit.

Angraeciod

an-grye-kiod -- orchids belonging to the Angraecum group of orchids

ANNUAL

an-yew-al -- orchid surviving one year/season only

Anomalous

ah-nom-a-lus -- having abnormal or irregular features

ANTENNAE

an-ten-nee -- slender, elongated appendages.

ANTHER

an-ther -- pertaining to the sac, portion of stamen containing pollen

ANTHER CAP

an-ther kap -- the covering over the pollinia of orchids.

ANTHESIS

an-thee-sis -- the period of time when the flower expands/opens

ANTIPODAL

an-tip-o-dal -- refers to orchids growing on both sides of the world

ANTROSE

an-tross -- the characteristic of growing upward or even forward.

APETALOUS

a-pet-uh-lus -- a flower without petals.

APHYLLUS

a-fill-us -- orchids without leaves

APICAL

ay-pik-al -- at the apex, used in reference to a leaf or bud at the tip of a stem.

APICULATE

a-pik-yew-layt -- ending in a sharp point.

Apicule

ah-pi-kyle -- having a sharp or abrupt projection

Arachniod

ah-rak-nyod -- being spider-like

Arcuate

ar-kyu-ate -- bow-shaped in form

Articulate

ar-tik-yu-late --possessing a node or joint

Ascending

ah-sen-ding -- growing or directed upwards

ASEPALOUS

a-sep-uh-lus -- a flower has no sepals.

ASEXUAL

ay-sek-shu-al -- sexless, a form of propagation requiring no seed but by using vegative segments ie kiekis to increase the population.

Asymmetrical

ah-si-met-ri-kal -- having no regular shape

ATTENUATE

at-ten-yew-ayt -- gradually narrowing to a point, long tapering

AURICULATE

aw-rik-yew-layt -- having appendages that are earlike in appearance.

Auricle

aw-ri-kl -- an ear-like extension

Auriculate

aw-rik-yu-late -- having auricles

AWL-SHAPED

awl-shaypt -- with a stiff point usually tapering gently from the base to the apex.

AXIL

ak-sil -- upper angle formed between stem, branch or leaf

AXILE

ak-syle -- on the axis

AXILLARY

ax-ill-airy -- situated on an axis

AXIS

ak-siss -- the main stem of a orchid

B

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BACKBULB

bak-bulb -- old leafless psuedobulbs, when removed from the parent orchid and re-potted can produce a new orchid

BANDED

ban-ded -- flowers and leaves that have strong lines of colour, ribs, or similar markings.

Barbate

bar-bate -- barbed or bearded

BASAL

bay-sul – the flower spike comes from the base of the pseudobulb.

Basifixed

bas-i-fixd -- attached to the base

BEAK

beek -- a long pronounced point, said of the stigma projection that forms the rostellum.

BEARD

beerd -- an hairy area sometimes found on flowers.

BIENNIAL

bye-en-nee-al -- a orchid with a life cycle across two growing seasons, usually growing vegetatively the first season and flowering in the second.

BIFARIOUS

bye-fair-ee-us -- orchid parts arranged in two rows.

Bifid

bi-fid -- divided into two equal lobes

BIFOLIATE

bye-foh-lee-ayt -- with two leaves.

BIFURCATE

bye-fur-kayt -- said of stigma, styles, lip, or some hairs that are forked.

BIGENERIC

bye-jen-ehr-ik -- refers to hybrids made between genera.

Bilobate

by-low-bate -- two-lobed

Bilobed

by-lobed -- see Bilobate

Bilocular

by-lok-yu-lar -- having two cells or compartments

BISEXUAL

bye-sek-shu-al -- flowers having both male and female parts.

BLADE

blayd -- the flattened, expanded portion of the leaf.

BLOTCH

blotch -- said of an irregular colour spots on the flowers.

BOOTS

boots -- often said of the pouchlike lips as on cypripedium flowers.

Brachiate

brak-ee-ate -- branches or other parts spreading at nearly right-angles.

BRACT

brakt -- the leaflike structure that subtends a flower, leaf or stem.

Bracteate

brak-tee-ate -- being bracts

BRACTEIFORM

brak-tee-form -- in the form of a bract.

BRACTEOLE

brak-tee-ohl -- said of a very small bract, often called a bractlet.

BRISTLY

bris-lee -- with stiff hairs.

BUD

buhd -- the unopened flower.

BULB

buhlb -- an enlarged or swollen stem, a storage organ.

Bulbil

bul-bil – new bulb, especially Pleiones

Bulbose

(bul-bows) – puffed up base with a bulb

Bulbous

(bul-bus) – bulb-like

C

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Calcarate

kal-kah-rate – spurred

Calceolate

kal-see-oh-late -- slipper-like

Calli

kal-eye -- plural of callus

CALLUS

kal-lus -- hard often waxy projections found on lips of orchids, such as phalaenopsis.

CALYX

kay-liks -- the outermost segments of the flower; the sepals.

Campanulate

kah-pan-yu-late -- bell-shaped

Canaliculate

kan-ah-lik-yu-late -- channelled, grooved length ways.

CAP

kapp -- the removable cover over the pollinia, as in anther cap.

Capitate

kap-pi-tate -- gathered into a head or dense cluster.

Capitulum

ka-piyu-lum --a head of densely clustered stem-less flowers

Capsule

kap-sool --a dry seed-pod

Carinate

kah-ri-nate -keeled, having a longitudinal line ridge on the lower surface

Carnose

kah-nows -- fleshy, pulpy

Cataphyll

kat-ah-fil -- undeveloped leaf at the beginning of a new growth

CAUDA

kaw-da -- an elongated tail-like growth or projection.

CAUDATE

kaw-dayt -- flowers furnished with tail or tails

Caulescent

kaw-less-ent -- producing a stem above ground

CAUDICLE

kaw-dik-ul – little stem, the stalk of a pollinium.

CAULINE

kaw-line -- belonging to a stem.

CELL

sell -- the smallest unit of a orchid structure.

CILIATE

sil-ee-ayt -- fringed with small hairs

CIRCUMBOREAL

sir-kum-bohr-ee-al -- orchids found all around the world in the northern hemisphere.

CIRRHOUS

seer-rus -- a tendril

CLAVATE

klav-ayt -- club-shaped with the thickening increasing towards the apex.

CLAVELATE

klav-el-ayt -- club shaped, thickened towards the apex

CLAW

klaw -- long, narrowstalk-like base of petals,sepals or lips

Clawed

Klawd --possessing a claw

Clinandrum

Kli-nan-dree-um -- cup-shaped area of the column of the flower in which the anther lies.

CLONE

klohn -- a new orchid derived from  vegetative propagation of the original orchid

Coalesce

Koe-ah-less -- growing together referring to similar parts of the flower

COLUMN

kol-um -- the central part of the orchid flower, formed by the stamen and the pistil

COMOSE

koh-mose -- with hair in tufts.

COMPACT

kom-pakt -- short or compressed.

COMPRESSED

kom-pressed -- flattened, usually laterally.

CONCAVE

kon-kave -- hollow, dished.

Congeneric

kon-je-ner-ik -- belonging to the same genus

Congested

kon-jes-ted -- crowded very closely together

CONICAL

kon-ik-al -- cone-shaped.

CONNATE

kon-ayt -- joined, two similar segments joined at their bases.

CONNECTIVE

kon-nek-tiv -- the tissue that unites the two cells of the anther.

CONVEX

kon-veks -- curving upward,  arched, rounded

CONVOLUTE

kon-vo-loot -- rolled up, edges over-lapping

CORDATE

kor-dayt – heart-shaped, as leaves.

CORIACEOUS

kor-ee-ay-shus -- describes leaves that have a thick, leathery texture.

CORM

korm -- a swollen stem base, usually underground. a storage organ.

Costate

kos-tate -- ribbed or veined

Crenate

kre-nate -- margins notched or scalloped

Crenulate

kren-yu-late -- possessing notches

CREST

krest -- an elevated ridge on the lip

CRESTED

krest-ed -- bearing a crest.

CRISPATE

kris-payt -- having very strong wavy margins; the ultimate form of undulation.

Cristate

kris-tate -- crested, comb-like

Cuneate

kyu-nee-ate -- wedge-shaped, triangular

Cucullate

kyu-kyu-late – hooded

CUPPED

kupt -- floral segments that are dish-shaped, cup-like, cup shaped

CYLINDRICAL

sil-lin-drick-al -- round and equal from top to bottom.

Cymbiform

sim-bi-form -- boat-shaped

D

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DECIDUOUS

de-sid-yew-us -- a orchid that sheds its leaves annually and is leafless for a period of time.

DECUMBENT

dee-kum-bent -- a reclining stem with the tip turned upwards.

DENTATE

den-tayt -- applies to the tooth-like margins found on leaves and petals, usually sharp and coarse.

DENTERMINATE

dee-ter-min-ayt -- when the terminal flower opens first, this prevents further elongation of the flower spike.

DENTICULATE

den-tik-yew-layt -- minutely dentate.

DIANDROUS

dye-an-drus -- having two stamens.

DICHOTOMOUS

dye-kot-oh-mus -- continually dividing into two's, said of branches when they fork into pairs.

DIMORPHOUS

dye-mor-fuss -- having two forms, said of orchids with juvenile and mature foliage.

DIPHYLLUS

dye-fill-us -- having two leaves, bifoliate.

DISC

disk -- a fleshy structure found on the basal portion of the lips of the orchid

DISTICHOUS

dis-tik-us -- orchids whose flowers or leaves are in two on opposite sides of the stem.

DIURNAL

dye-urn-al -- when flowers open and are fragrant during the day.

DORSAL

door-sal -- pertaining to the dorsal sepal; the back, uppermost sepal.

DOWNY

dow-nee -- covered with hairs, usually short, soft hairs.

E

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ELLIPTIC

el-lip-tik -- oval leaves in shape and equally rounded at the base and apex.

ELONGATE

ee-long-gayt -- a very long or drawn-out leaf or pseudobulb.

EMARGINATE

ee-mar-jin-ayt -- a leaf with a shallow notch at it's tip.

ENDEMIC

en-dem-ik -- a orchid from a given area and found nowhere else.

ENSIFORM

en-sih-form -- leaves that are sword-like in shaped.

EPHEMERAL

ee-fem-er-al -- flowers open for a short time i.e. one day.

EPIDERMIS

ep-ih-der-mis -- the layer of cells that forms the covering of all orchid parts.

EPIPHYTE

ep-ih-fite – a orchid that lives on a tree but does not draw nourishment from it.

EQUITANT

ek-kwi-tant -- overlapping leaves that form two ranks

ERECT

ee-rekt -- growing in an upright.manner

EROSE

ee-rohs -- a leaf tip that appears to have a torn margin or looks like an insect had chewed it

EVERGREEN

ev-er-green -- a orchid that retains its leaves for more than one year

EXCRESCENCES

eks-kress-en-sus -- wartlike growth, often watery.

EYE

aye -- a vegetative bud at the base of the pseudobulb or growth of sympodial orchids.

F

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FALCATE

fal-kayt -- shaped like a sickle, Scythe-shaped.

FAMILY

fam-il-ee -- a natural unit in taxonomy wherein one or more genera are combined because of a number of similar characteristics, e.g., orchidacae.

FERTILIZATION

fer-tih-lih-zay-shun -- the fusion of the male

FETID

fet-tid -- having a very disagreeable odor.

FIBROUS

fye-brus -- having structures resembling fibers.

FILAMENT

fill-uh-ment -- the stemlike structure which supports the anther; a part of the stamen.

FIMBRIATE

fim-bree-ayt -- the flower being fringed

FIMBRILLATE

fim-bri-late -- having minute fringes.

FLACCID

fla-cid – soft and limp

FLESHY ROOT

flesh-ee root -- a large, thick, succulent root.

FLEXUOSE

flex-yu-ose – wavy, bending or curving gently

FLORA

floor-uh – orchids native to a given area or region

FLORIFEROUS

flo-riff-er-us -- having flowers, an orchid that flowers freely or has many flowers.

FLOWER

flou-er -- a stem bearing a pistil or stamens or both generally surrounded by petals or sepals or both.

FOLIAGE

foh-li-ij -- the leaves.

FOOT

fut -- a projection at the base of the column.

FORKED

forkd -- having two or more prongs; in orchids this means divided into two equal segments.

FRECKLED

freck-eld -- petals or sepals covered with small dark-coloured spots.

FRINGED

frinjd -- having a border or margin with an edging of fine hairs.

FURCATE

fur-kate -- forked

FURROWED

fer-rohd -- having long grooves.

FUSIFORM

few-sih-form -- shaped like a spindle, tapering to both ends

G

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GALLATE

gal-ee-ate – helmet-shaped

GAMOPETALOUS

gam-oh-pet-uh-lus -- having the petals in a flower fused.

GAMOSEPALOUS

gam-oh-sep-uh-lus -- having the sepals in a flower fused.

GENERA

jen-eh-ruh -- the plural of genus.

GENUS

jee-nus -- a taxonomic subdivision of a family. Each genus is composed of one or more species

GENICULATE

jen-nik-yu-late – bent abruptly, similar to a knee.

GLABROUS

glay-brus -- without hairs, smooth.

GLADIATE

glad-ee-ate – sword-like

GLAUCOUS

glaw-kus -- having a whitish or bluish-grey bloom on the foliage

GLOBOSE

glo-bohse -- almost round.

GLUTINOUS

glu-tin-us -- very sticky.

GROOVED

groo-ved -- having furrows or ridges.

GYNANDRIUM

jye-nan-dri-um -- the organ containing the male and female portions of the orchid flower.

GYNANDROUS

jye-nan-drus -- having the stamens attached to the stigma and style in one unit.

GYNOECIUM

jye-nee-see-um -- the female portion of the flower.

H

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HABIT

hab-it -- the form or shape of a orchid.

HABITAT

hab-ih-tat -- the area where a orchid grows in its native land.

HAIR

hair -- a collective term to describe all of the various outgrowths on orchid parts, such as pubescent, hirsute, ect.

HEAD

hed – having flowers in a tight cluster at the top of the flower spike.

HERMAPHRODITE

her-maf-roh-dyte -- the perfect flower, having both male and female organs.

HIRSUTE

her-soot -- orchids having coarse, stiff usually long hairs.

HOODED

hood-ed -- floral segments that form a hood.

HORNED

hornd -- having a hornlike projection, as the lip of Stanhopea.

HRYBRIDIZATION

hye-brid-eye-zay-shun -- the act of producing hybrids.

HYALINE

hy-ah-leen – transparent or transluscent

HYBRID

hye-brid -- a orchid that results from the crossing of two distinct species between genera.

I

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IMBRICATE

im-bree-kayt -- when leaves and other orchid segments overlap in a shingle-like arrangement.

IMPERFECT

im-per-fekt -- an incomplete flower, lacking parts.

INCISED

in-sysd -- having deep margins, usually irregular cut.

INDETERMINATE

in-dee-ter-min-ayt -- when the lower flowers open first and the apex of the flower spike remains closed.

INDIGENOUS

in-dij-en-us -- an orchid native to a specific area or region.

INFERIOR

in-fear-ee-or -- beneath, said of ovaries wherein the floral segments are attached at the apex of the ovary.

INFLEXED

in-flexd – bent or turned away suddenly inwards or downwards

INFLORESCENCE

in-floor-ess-ents -- the stem bearing the flowers, the flowering portion of a orchid.

INFUNDIBULIFORM

in-fun-dib-yu-li-form – funnel or cone shaped

INROLLED

in-rold – floral segments where the margins are rolled in

INTERNODE

in-ter-nohd -- the segment of a stem between two nodes

INTRORSE

in-troars -- facing inwards towards the axis of the growth

INVOLUTE

in-vol-ute – in-rolled, with both edges rolled in towards the middle, giving a spiral appearance in cross-section

J

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JOINTED

joyn-ted -- having very distinct nodes.

K

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KEEL

keel -- the main dorsal vein

KIEKI

kay-kee -- an off-shoot, an advantageous growth

L

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LABELLUM

lah-bel-lum -- a modified petal of an orchid flower, the lip.

LABIATE

lah-bee-ate -- lipped, furnished with a lip

LACERATE

lah-ser-ayt -- appearing torn, or cut irregularly along the margins.

LACINIATE

la-sin-ee-ate -- narrowly incised or slashed along the margins

LAGENIFORM

la-gen-i-form -- flagon shaped

LAMELLA

la-mel-ah -- a thin plate or scale

LAMINA

lam-i-na -- the blade or extended part of the leaf or petal

LANCEOLATE

lan-see-oh-layt -- in the form of a lance, being longer than broad and tapering towards the apex.

LATERAL

lat-err-ul -- coming from the side.

LAX

laks – having loose, flexible, drooping segments not dense

LEAD

leed -- the green, usually flat segment that grows out from a stem.

LEAFLESS

leef-less -- a orchid without leaves.

LENTICULAR

len-tik-yu-lar -- lens shaped

LIGNEOUS

lig-nee-us -- woody

LIGULATE

lig-yew-layt -- strap-shaped, as leaves.

LIMB

lim -- the flat, expanded portion of any segment, expanded section of the lip.

LINEAR

lin-ee-ayr -- leaves whose sides are parallel and are long and narrow, grasslike.

LINGUIFORM

lin-gwi-form -- tongue shaped

LINGULATE

ling-yew-layt -- tongue or strap shaped

LIP

lipp -- the labellum.

LOBATE

loe-bate -- having lobes

LOBE

lohb -- any division of a segment, as the lobes of a lip, normally three-lobed in orchids.

LOBED

lohbd -- having parts with lobes.

LOBULE

low-byool -- a small lobe

LOCULE

lok-yewl -- one of the compartments in the ovary of an orchid.

LORATE

lor-ayt -- strap-shaped, as leaves.

LUNATE

loo-nate -- crescent shaped

LYRATE

lye-rate -- shaped similar to a lyre

M

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MACULATE

mak-yu-late -- spotted, stained or blotched

MARGINATE

mar-ji-nate -- having a distinct border or margin

MEDIUM

mee-dee-um -- the material in which an orchid is grown

MENTUM

men-tum -- a chin-like protuberance.

MESOCHIL

mes-oh-kil -- part of the lip when the structure is separated into three parts

MIDRIB

mid-rib -- the main vein of a leaf.

MONANDROUS

mo-nan-drus -- having one anther/stamen.

MONOCOTYLEDON

mon-oh-kot-i-lee-don -- has a single seed leaf

MONOPODIAL

mon-oh-poh-dee-al -- an orchid that grows perpendicular to the horizon with very strong apical dominance. e.g., Phalaenopsis, Vanda

MUCRO

moo-krow -- a short and sharply abrupt tip

MUCRONATE

moo-krow-nate -- having a small, short, sharp tip at the apex of a leaf.

MULTIGENERIC

mul-ti-jen-er-ik -- orchid hybrids made from many genera

N

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NAKED

nay-ked -- devoid of a covering, orchid seeds which lack endosperm.

NECTAR

nek-tar -- the sugary exudates of various glands on a orchid.

NECTARY

nek-tar-ee -- the gland that produces the nectar, often found at the base of a lip or the base of a spur on a lip.

NEPHRIOD

nef-royd -- kidney shaped

NERVE

nerv -- the small vein of a leaf.

NETTED

net-ted -- when veins form a connected network.

NOCTURNAL

nok-ter-nal -- flowers that open or are fragrant only at night.

NODE

noed -- the point on the stem or pseudobulb where the leaves or bracts are attached, a knot or joint

NODOSE

noe-dose -- having nodes are knotty or knobbed

NUTANT

noo-tant -- nodding, drooping

O

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OBCORDATE

ahb-kor-dayt -- having heart-shaped lobes at the apex of the leaf.

OBLANCEOLATE

ahb-lan-see-oh-layt -- lance-shaped in reverse, i.e., widest at the apex.

OBLONG

ahb-long -- with parts that are longer than they are wide.

OBOVATE

ahb-oh-vayt -- egg-shaped, narrowest at the base.

OBTUSE

ahb-toos -- blunt, rounded at the tip.

OFFSET

awf-set -- a lateral shoot

ORBICULAR

or-bik-yew-lar -- round in shape.

ORCHIDACEAE

or-kid-day-see-ee -- the latin name for the orchid family.

ORCHIDIST

or-kid-ist -- a person who is very interested in orchids and their culture.

ORCHIDOLOGY

or-kih-dol-oh-jee -- the study of orchids.

OVAL

oh-val -- having parts like a thickened ellipse.

OVATE

oh-vayt -- egg-shaped in outline.

OVOID

oh-void -- egg-shaped as a solid form.

OVULE

oh-vuhl -- a small protuberance in the ovary, capable of forming a seed when fertilized.

P

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PALMATE

pal-mate -- lobed, or divided in a palm, hand-like manner.

PANDURATE

pan-doo-rate -- fiddle shaped

PANICLE

pan-ih-kul -- having a branched inflorescence, lower branches being longer

PANICULATE

pa-nik-yu-late -- arranged in a panicle maneer

PAPILAE

pa-pill-ee -- small pimple-like projections on a segment

PARASITE

par-ra-site -- a orchid that derives its sustenance from another living plant.

PARIETAL

pa-rye-eh-tal -- a form of placentation found in orchids where ovules are borne on the walls or on protrusions of the wall of the ovary.

PARTITE

par-tite -- divided at the base

PATENT

pa-tent -- spreading, opening widely 

PECTINATE

pek-ni-tate --shaped like a comb

PEDICEL

ped-ih-sel -- the stem of a single flower on an inflorescence.

PEDUNCLE

pee-dung-kol -- the stem of a cluster of flowers, of the stem of a solitary flower where the inflorescence is reduced to a single flower.

PELUCID

pe-loo-sid --transparent, clear

PELORIC

pe-loe-rik -- abnormal formation of the flower

PELATE

pe-late -- shaped like a shield

PENDULOUS

pen-doo-lus -- inclined and hanging downwards

PERENNIAL

per-enn-ee-al -- a orchid with a life cycle that continues for years. actually any orchid that lives more than two years.

PERFECT

per-fekt -- a flower not being mis-shaped and having both male and female organs.

PERFOLIATE

per-foo-lee-ate -- having a leaf surrounding the stem

PERIANTH

per-ee-anth -- floral envelope, a collective term for the two outer whorls of floral segments

PETAL

pet-al -- the inner whorl of the perianth; the segments, of which there are usually three with one highly modified; the lip.

PETALOID

pet-uh-loyd -- having the appearance of a petal.

PETIOLE

pet-ee-ohl -- the stalk of a leaf.

PILOSE

pye-lohs -- shaggy, having a covering of long soft hairs.

PISTIL

pis-til -- the female organ of the flower which produces the seed; a stigma, style, and ovary.

PISTILLATE

pis-ti-late -- bearing a pistil

PLACENTATION

pla-sen-tay-shun -- the arrangement of the ovules in an ovary.

PLAITED

pla-ted -- folded length ways, a closed fan

PLEATED

pleet-ed -- folded as a fan

PLEUROTHALLID

ploo-row-thah-lid -- pertaining the the Pleurothallidinae group

PLICATE

plye-kayt -- folded leavesin a fan shape

PLUMOSE

ploo-mose -- feathery, feather-like bearing hairs on each side

POD

pod -- a rather general term for a dry, dehiscent fruit.

POLLINATION

pol-lih-nay-shun -- the act of the transfer of the pollinia  from the stamen to the pistil

POLLINIA

pol-lin-ee-uh -- the compact packets of pollen found in orchid flowers.

PROCUMBENT

pro-kum-bent -- lying flat, a stem growing horizontally on the surface of the ground.

PROLIFERATION

pro-lif-fer-ay-shun -- bearing offsets.

PROSTRATE

pros-trate -- being flat on the ground.

PSEUDOBULB

soo-doh-buhlb -- a bulb-like stem, above ground thickened portion of the lateral branch of sympodial orchids.

PSEUDOBULBOUS

soo-doh-buhl-bous -- with pseudobulbs.

PUBESCENS

pew-bess-enz -- covered with short, soft hairs, soft and downy

PUBESCENT

pew-bess-sent -- a general term referring to hairs on orchids.

PYRIFORM

pye-rih-form -- pseudobulbs that are shaped like pears.

Q

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QUADRANGLAR

kwod-ran-gyu-lar -- having four sides

QUADRATE

kwod-rate -- squared

QUADRIGENERIC

kwod-ri-je-ner-ik --pertaining to four genera with reference to hybrids

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RACEME

ray-seem -- a cluster of flowers on short stalks.

RACEMOSE

ray-see-mose -- growing in the form of a raceme

RACHIS

ray-kiss -- the main axis of a spike of an inflorescence, branch of a panicle

RADICLE

rad-ee-kul -- pertaining to the root or base

RAMIFICATION

ram-ee-fi-kay-shun -- the style or mode of the branching of an orchid

RAMOSE

rah-mose -- branched

RANKS

ranks -- refers to the arrangement of flowers or leaves in vertical rows, having two ranks means two vertical rows of leaves.

RECEPTACLE

ree-sep-ta-kul -- the enlarged apex of a stem upon which some of the floral segments are attached.

RECURVED

ree-kurvd -- bending backwards.

REED-TYPE

reed-type -- sympodial orchids with long lateral branches containing many leaves and of uniform thickness

REFLEXED

 re-flexd -- bent or turned backwards

RENIFORM

ren-ee-form -- kidney-shaped

REPAND

re-pand -- gently undulating, wavy

RESUPINATE

ree-soo-pin-ayt -- upside down, inverted in position

RETICULATE

re-tik-yu-late -- forming a network of veins on a leaf

RETUSE

ree-toos -- rounded at the end with a shallow notch.

RETRORSE

re-trorse -- turned backwards downwards

REVOLUTE

rev-oh-lewt -- the leaf having its margins rolled back.

RHIZOME

rye-zohm -- a horizontal stem, either on or just below the ground, which has roots and erect lateral branches.

RIB

rib - primary vein of a leaf

RIDGED

rid-jd -- having raised lines in pseudobulbs.

ROOT

root -- a leafless segment of a orchid, usually underground.

ROSETTE

roh-zet -- the leaves all radiate out from a central axis and form a circle, a basal cluster

ROSTELLUM

ros-tell-um -- a little beak; the sharp apex of the stigma that separates the pollinia from the stigmatic surface; a gland.

ROSTRATE

ros-trate -- having a beak

ROSULATE

ros-zoo-late -- growing in a rosette

ROTATE

ro-tate -- wheel shaped

ROTUND

ro-tund -- nearly circular , inclining to be oblong

RUFFLED

ruff-uld -- having a very wavy margin.

RUGOSE

roo-gose -- roughened by wrinkles

RUGLOSE

roo-gyu-lose -- finely wrinkled

RUPICULOSE

roo-pi-koe-lus -- growing on or near rocks or stones

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SACCATE

sak-kayt -- shaped like a sack, bag-like

SAGITTATE

sa-ji-tate -- shaped like a arrow head

SAPROPHYTE

sap-roh-fite -- a orchid which lives on dead organic matter

SARCANTHAD

sar-kan-thad -- a member of the sub-tribe sarcanthinae

SAXICALOUS

sax-i-koe-lus -- growing near rocky places, on rocks

SCABROUS

skab-rus -- rough or gritty to the touch

SCAPE

skayp -- a leafless flower stalk, often arising from the ground, no foliage leaves but flowers.

SCAPOSE

skayp-ohs -- having flowers on a scape.

SECUND

se-kund -- unilateral, bourne on one side only.

SEED

seed -- a matured ovule capable of producing a new orchid.

SEED POD

seed pod -- the mature ovary containing the mature ovules

SEEDLING

seed-ling -- any orchid formed from a seed which has not yet attained flowering size.

SEGMENT

seg-ment -- pertains to the parts of the flower, such as petals, sepals, etc.

SELF-FERTILIZATION

self-fer-tih-lih-zay-shun -- the fertilization secured by pollen from the same flower

SELF-POLLENATION

self-pol-en-nay-shun -- transferral of pollen from the stamen  to pistil of the same flower

SEMI-EPIPHYTE

sem-ee-e-i-fite -- not truly epiphyte, partly epiphytic

SEMITERETE

sem-ee-ter-reet -- the leaves of hybrids formed by crossing strapped-leaved orchids with terete-leaved orchids as in vanda.

SEPAL

see-pul -- one of the modified leaves forming the pouter and lower series of the floral envelope or flower

SEPULINE

see-pu-line -- pertaining to the sepal

SEPTATE

sep-tate -- divided into partitions

SERRATE

ser-rate -- saw toothed

SERRULATE

ser-yu-late -- minutely serrate

SESSILE

sess-il -- stalkless, without a stem

SHEATH

sheeth -- any leaflike structure in orchids that envelops the developing buds and emerging pseudobulbs.

SHOOT

shoot -- the new growth of a orchid, usually a portion of the stem with its attached leaves.

SIMPLE

sim-pul -- a non-branched flower spike

SINUATE

sin-yu-ate -- wavy margins

SINUS

sye-nus -- a depression between two lobes of a lip, leaf, or flower

SMOOTH

sm-ooth -- a surface free of all blemishes; not hairy, not rough

SOLITARY

sol-ih-tay-ree -- only one flower per inflorescence.

SPATHEACEOUS

spa-thay-shus -- furnished with a sheath, sheath-like

SPATHE

spayth -- a bract of leaf that subtends or encompasses an inflorescence.

SPATHULATE

spath-yew-layt -- shaped like a spoon.

SPECIES

spee-sheez -- a number of orchids that are non-hybrids

SPICATE

spy-kate -- in the form of a spike

SPIKE

spyke -- an inflorescence with flowers that are without stems.

SPIRAL

spy-ral -- when leaves are arranged on the stem so as to form a spiral.

SPOTTED

spot-ted -- having irregular areas of colour on sepals, petals, or leaves.

SPRAY

spray -- a general term used to describe all types of inflorescences.

SPUR

sper -- the tubular extension on the flower usually containing a nectar

STALK

stawk -- see stem

STAMEN

stay-men -- the male portion of the flower

STAMINODE

stam-in-ohd -- a pollenless or sterile stamen.

STELLATE

stel-ate -- star-like

STEM

stehm -- a main axis which bears leaves and eventually flowers

STEMLIKE

stehm-like -- appearing like a stem.

STIGMA

stig-muh -- the apex of the pistil,

STIPE

sty-pe -- a slender stalk-like base

STRAP LEAF

strap-leef -- leaves that are long and narrow

STRIPED

strypd -- having lines of color on sepals, petals, or leaves.

STRIATE

stry-ate -- having longitudinal lines, ridges or grooves

STRIOLATE

stry-oh-late -- faintly striped

STYLAR CANAL

syt-lar kan-al -- a canal leading to the ovary through which the pollen tubes pass.

SUB

sub -- meaning almost, as subcordate, almost heart-shaped.

SUBCORDATE

sub-kor-date -- almost heart-shaped

SUBCORIACEOUS

sub-koe-ree-ay-shus -- approaching a leathery texture

SUBERECT

sub-ee-erkt -- nearly upright

SUBGENUS

sub-jee-nus -- sub-divided groups within the genus.

SUBSESSILE

sub-ses-ile -- almost stemless

SUBSTANCE

sub-stans -- refers to the texture of the flower and relates to thickness of the floral segments and its longevity.

SUBSTRATUM

sub-strah-tum -- the material in which the orchid grows

SUBTERATE

sub-ter-ate -- somewhat terate

SUBULATE

sub-yu-late -- awl-shaped

SUCCULENT

suk-yew-lent -- leaves, stems that tend to be are very soft, fleshy, and moist.

SULCATE

sull-kayt -- grooved, deeply furrowed

SWOLLEN

swol-len -- said of orchid parts that are larger than other similar parts.

SYMPODIAL

sim-poh-dee-al -- a orchid whose main stem grows horizontally and that has determinate lateral branches. flower spikes are terminal or axillary

SYNSEPAL

sin-see-pul -- of the sub-tribe Cypripedilinae

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TAXON

tak-son -- a taxonomic term applying to a genus or species.

TAXONOMY

tak-sohn-oh-mee -- the science of orchid classification.

TERETE

teh-reet -- leaves that are round in cross section, pencil shaped

TERMINAL

ter-mih-nal -- the end, the uppermost flower or the apex of the stem.

TERRESTRIAL

ter-res-tree-al -- orchids that grow in soil or similar medium on the ground

TESSALATION

tess-sel-lay-shun -- the chequered patterns found on some orchid flowers

TESSELATE

tess-sel-ayt -- orchid parts that are chequered or evenly netted

TETRAGONAL

teh-trag-oh-nal -- four sided.

THROAT

throwt -- the basal, usually almost tubular portion of the lip of an orchid flower.

TOMENTOSE

tow-men-tohs -- having a very dense covering of hairs, almost woolly.

TOOTH

tooth -- a sharp pointed marginal projection

TORTUOUS

tor-tyu-us -- twisted, irregular bending

TRIANDROUS

try-an-drus -- having three stamens

TRIBE

ribe -- a group of closely related genera, natural division within a genus

TRILOBED

try-lohbd -- having three lobes.

TRIGENERIC

try-je-ner-ik -- having three genera

TRUNCATE

trun-kayt -- when the leaf appears to have been cut off at the apex and the apex appears flat/square

TUBER

tew-ber -- a thickened stem, usually underground.

TUBERCLE

tew-ber-kul -- small tubers, that may not be underground, has small tubers on leaves or petals.

TUBEROUS

too-ber-ous -- tuber like, having tubers

TUBULAR

tew-bew-lar -- having a round cylindrical shape.

TUNICATE

tew-nih-kayt -- with concentric or sheathing layers of tissue.

TURBINATE

ter-bin-ate -- inversely conical.

TWISTED

twist-ed -- having parts that are spriraling or corkscrew-like.

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UMBEL

um-bell -- flat topped in which the flowers appear to arise at one point.

UMBELLATE

um-bel-ate -- pertaining to the umbel

UNDULATE

un-dew-layt -- with an up-and-down wavy margin on a leaf or petal

UNGUICULATE

un-gwik-yew-layt -- clawed down out at the base, often drawn into a thin stalk

UNGUICULE

un-gwik-yewl -- a claw

UNILATERAL

yu-ni-lat-er-al -- one-sided

UNIFOLIATE

yew-nih-foh-lee-ayt -- having only one leaf.

URCEOLATE

ur-see-oh-late -- urn-shaped

UNTRICULATE

un-trik-yu-late -- bladder like, inflated

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VARIETY

va-rye-eh-tee -- a orchid within a species that has a minor, distinct characteristic

VEGETATIVE

vej-eh-tay-tive -- propagation using asexual methods of reproduction such as by cutting and division

VEIN

vayn -- the vascular tissue in the leaf that transports water, nutrients, and carbohydrates throughout the leaf

VELUTINOUS

vel-loo-tin-us -- having a covering of erect, somewhat firm hairs.

VENOSE

ve-nose -- veined, full of veins

VENTRAL

ven-trul -- the front, opposite of dorsal; the inner segments of a flower.

VENTRICOSE

ventri-kose -- swollen on one side

VERRUCOSE

ver-yu-kose -- covered with wart like protrusions

VERTICEL

ver-ti-sel -- a whorl

VESICLE

ves-i-kul -- a bldder or bladder like cavity

VILLOUS

vil-us -- with soft straight hairs, shaggy

VIRGATE

veer-gate -- rod-like, long, slender ands straight

VISCID

viss-id -- very sticky.

VITTATE

vi-tate -- srtiped lengthwise

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WHORL

wurl -- three or more leaves or flowers in a circle around the axis

WINGED

wingd --  a thin expansion from a surface, at an angle to a surface

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XEROPHYTE

zer-oh-fite -- an orchid adapted to live on a  limited supply of moisture

XEROPHYTIC

zer-oh-fit-ik -- relating to xerophyte

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ZONATE

zo-nate -- banded or zoned in particular areas

ZEROPHYTE

zir-roh-fite -- orchids native to arid areas.

ZYGOMORPHIC

zye-go-mor-fik -- an irregular flower capable of being divided into symmetrical  halves only in the longitudinal plane.