Polystachyinae

Polystachyinae
Polystachya camaridioides, a member of the type genus Polystachya
Botanical illustration of Hederorkis scandederis, which is a member of the second genus (Hederorkis) of the subtribe
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Vandeae
Subtribe: Polystachyinae
Schlechter
Type genus
Polystachya Hook.

Polystachyinae is a subtribe within the tribe Vandeae in family Orchidaceae. It consists of 2 genera and about 228 known species. The type genus of this subtribe is Polystachya. The group is pantropical, being native to tropical Africa primarily, but also to tropical America.[1] Members of this group are epiphytic and are distinguished from the other subtribes in the tribe Vandeae by their sympodial growth habit and the presence of four pollinia. Pollination is mostly by small species of bees, however some species (e.g. Polystachya concrete) exhibit auto-pollination.[2]

  1. ^ Dressler, Robert L. Phylogeny and classification of the orchid family. (1993). p. 128. Cambridge University Press.
  2. ^ Cingel, Nelis A. An Atlas of orchid pollination: America, Africa, Asia and Australia. (2001) CRC Press.