Leafless Orchids

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About Leafless Orchids

Leafless Orchids

This group is for photos and videos of orchids that live without leaves, or that live with less-than-usual dependence on leaves. Photos can be of entire plants or of just flowers, or anything between. Many photos will be of leafless epiphytes that have chlorphyllous roots, but saprophytes, leafless vining orchids, orchids that are mostly roots but that have a few leaves, and deciduous orchids that exhibit interesting behavior or appearance when they are without leaves are enthusiastically welcomed, as are any subjects that are appropriate but not described above.

Here are the main categories:

1. Epiphytes, such as the Ghost Orchid, that have chlorphyllous roots that are the main source of photosynthesis for the plants (see below for further examples).

2. Saprophytic orchids, such as the Underground Orchid (see below for further examples).

3. Leafless Vanilla species, such as the Worm Vine (see below for further examples).

4. Deciduous orchids that flower (or are otherwise interesting) when leafless - the Crippled Crane Fly Orchid is one example (see below for further examples).

5. Any other orchid that fits.

Some lists of genera are placed at the end of this description

Note: many genus names that are not now considered to be valid, but that are still widely used, are included in the lists, so there's some redundancy. For example, Dendrophylax = Polyradicion = Polyrrhiza, at least for what's now called Dendrophylax lindenii, the Ghost Orchid.

The lists are by no means exhaustive, so if you have a photo of a plant that you think fits into the group, please submit it. Photos that fall severely outside of the parameters will be deleted, but keep in mind that the parameters are broad.

Examples

1. Epiphytes that have chlorphyllous roots that are the main source of photosynthesis for the plants: Dendrophylax, Polyradicion, Polyrrhiza, Harrisella, Campylocentrum (many, but not all), Microcoelia, Chiloschista, Taeniophyllum, some Mystacidium, Encheiridion, Taeniorrhiza, Solenangis, Chauliodon, Galielola, Phalaenopsis section Aphyllae (and other minimially-leafy Phalaenopsis) and others.

2. Saprophytic orchids: Corallorrhiza, Hexalectris, some Cephalanthera (e.g. austinae), Neottia, Epipogium, Gastrodia, some Dipodium (e.g. punctatum), Galeola, Pseudovanilla, Erythrorchis, Rhizanthella, Cryptanthemis, Didymoplexis, Didymoplexiopsis, Pogoniopsis,Stereosandra, Aphyllorchis, Wullschlaegelia, Auxopus, Schwartzkoppfia, Cyrtosia, some Eulophia (e.g. galeoloides), Danhatchia, Lecanorchis, some Cymbidium species (e.g. macrorhizon/nipponicum), Vietorchis, Yoania, and others.

3. Leafless species of Vanilla: barbellata, aphylla, madagascariensis, decaryana, and others.

4. Orchids that flower when leafless (or that have an otherwise interesting appearance in that condition): some Dendrobium species, various Catasetinae, Pleione, Lycaste, Ida, Aplectrum, Tipularia, and numerous others. Photos of leafless deciduous orchid plants that are not in flower but that are interesting to look at are also welcome.