Orchidoideae

The Orchidoideae, or the orchidoid orchids, are a subfamily of the orchid family (Orchidaceae) that contains around 3630 species. Species typically have a single (monandrous), fertile anther which is erect and basitonic.

Description

The subfamily Orchidoideae and the previously recognized subfamily Spiranthoideae are considered the closest allies in the natural group of the monandrous orchids because of several generally shared characters:

• a shared terrestrial habit
• sectile (capable of being severed) or granular pollinia
• erect anthers.

Taxonomy

Phylogeny of the Orchidoideae is volatile and still subject to change. Historically, the Orchidoideae have been partitioned into up to 6 tribes, including Orchideae, Diseae, Cranichideae, Chloraeeae, Diurideae, and Codonorchideae. However, the most recent molecular phylogenetics analysis led by Chase et al. in 2015 and subsequently by Chen et al. in 2017 indicates that the Orchidoideae should be split into 4 tribes: the Orchideae, Cranichideae, Diurideae, and Codonorchideae.

Codonorchideae

This monophyletic tribe consists of only one genus, Codonorchis, found in South America.

Cranichideae

This cosmopolitan tribe comprises 8 currently accepted subtribes. Molecular evidence suggests that the former Chloraeeae are sister to the rest of the Cranichideae. As such, the Chloraeeae are now considered a subtribe of the Cranichideae. Moreover, based on morphological and genetic evidence, the genus Discyphus was elevated out of the Spiranthinae to form its own monophyletic subtribe, the Discyphinae.

Orchideae

Once divided into the Orchidinae and Habenariinae (a nonsystematic paraphyletic splitting), the Orchideae now comprise 6 subtribes. Along with previous molecular studies, Chase et al's 2015 analysis confirmed that Diseae was a polyphyletic grouping. Consequently, the former subtribes of Diseae have been redistributed within the Orchideae (for instance, Satyrium is now classified in the Orchidinae). In his 2015 study Chase recommended further study of historically problematic genera in the former Diseae such as Huttonaea and Pachites. Further molecular analysis by Chen et al. in 2017 led to the following reorganization:

Diurideae

The Diurideae, a predominantly Australasian tribe, retain their previous subtribal organization and comprise 9 taxa:

• Acianthinae (monophyletic)
• Caladeniinae (polyphyletic)
• Cryptostylidinae (monophyletic)
• Diuridinae (monophyletic)
• Drakaeinae (monophyletic)
• Megastylidinae (monophyletic)
• Prasophyllinae (monophyletic)
• Rhizanthellinae (monophyletic)
• Thelymitrinae (monophyletic)

References

• Pridgeon, A.M., P.J. Cribb, M.W. Chase and F.N. Rasmussen [eds.]. 2003. Genera Orchidacearum vol. 3: Orchidoideae part 2, Vanilloideae. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K.
• Salazar, G.A., M.W. Chase, M.A. Soto Arenas and M. Ingrouille. 2003. Phylogenetics of Cranichideae with emphasis on Spiranthinae (Orchidaceae, Orchidoideae): evidence from plastid and nuclear DNA sequences. American Journal of Botany 90: 777-795.
• Salazar, G.A., L.I. Cabrera, S. Madriñán and M.W. Chase. 2009. Phylogenetic relationships of Cranichidinae and Prescottiinae (Orchidaceae, Cranichideae) inferred from plastid and nuclear DNA sequences. Annals of Botany 104: 403-416. [1]