Vandeae
Encyclopedia
The Vandeae is a large monophyletic
tribe
within the family of orchids.
This tribe contains 1,700 - 2,000 species in more than 150 genera. The classification of taxa within this tribe is still largely based on floral morphology
. Only a few attempts have been made to obtain a classification based on molecular evidence, usually based on sequence data from several plastid
-encoded DNA
regions.
These orchids are pantropical epiphyte
s and occur in tropical Asia, the Pacific Islands, Australia, and Africa. Many of these orchids are horticulturally important, especially Vanda and Phalaenopsis
.
This tribe is subdivided into four subtribes :
Monophyly
In common cladistic usage, a monophyletic group is a taxon which forms a clade, meaning that it contains all the descendants of the possibly hypothetical closest common ancestor of the members of the group. The term is synonymous with the uncommon term holophyly...
tribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
within the family of orchids.
This tribe contains 1,700 - 2,000 species in more than 150 genera. The classification of taxa within this tribe is still largely based on floral morphology
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
. Only a few attempts have been made to obtain a classification based on molecular evidence, usually based on sequence data from several plastid
Plastid
Plastids are major organelles found in the cells of plants and algae. Plastids are the site of manufacture and storage of important chemical compounds used by the cell...
-encoded DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
regions.
These orchids are pantropical epiphyte
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
s and occur in tropical Asia, the Pacific Islands, Australia, and Africa. Many of these orchids are horticulturally important, especially Vanda and Phalaenopsis
Phalaenopsis
Phalaenopsis Blume , abbreviated Phal in the horticultural trade, is an orchid genus of approximately 60 species. Phalaenopsis is one of the most popular orchids in the trade, through the development of many artificial hybrids....
.
This tribe is subdivided into four subtribes :
- Subtribe Aeridinae (formerly, illegitimate subtribal name Sarcanthinae): largest subtribe with more than 1,000 species in 103 genera, including about 200 hybrid species; occurs mostly in Asia and Australia and with a few in Africa. They are distinguished from the other subtribes by having an entire rostellumRostellumThe rostellum is a projecting part of the column in Orchidaceae flowers, and separates the male stamen from the female gynoecium, commonly preventing self-fertilisation...
, a relatively small spurSpur (biology)A spur in botany is a spike, usually part of a flower.In certain plants, part of a sepal or petal develops into an elongated hollow spike extending behind the flower, containing nectar which is sucked by long-tongued animals . Plants with such structures include Delphinium, Aquilegia, Piperia, and...
formed by the lip, and four (or two) polliniaPolliniumPollinium, or plural pollinia, is a coherent mass of pollen grains in a plant.They are the product of only one anther, but are transferred, during pollination, as a single unit. This is regularly seen in plants such as orchids and many species of milkweeds .Most orchids have waxy pollinia...
. - Subtribe AerangidinaeAerangidinaeAerangidinae is a subtribe within the tribe Vandeae in family Orchidaceae. It consists of 36 genera and about 300 species. The type genus of this subtribe is Aerangis. Members of this group are epiphytic orchids having a monopodial habit and are endemic to tropical Africa and Madagascar...
: about 300 species in 36 genera. They are distributed through tropical Africa and Madagascar. They are distinguished from the other subtribes by having an elongate rostellum, an elongate spur, and two pollinia. - Subtribe AngraecinaeAngraecinaeAngraecinae is a subtribe in the Orchidaceae family. The subtribe consists of approximately 18 nautural genera and about 360 species. The type genus is Angraecum. Most of the genera are endemic to Africa, Madagascar and other Indian Ocean Islands, a few genera can also be found in the...
: about 400 species in 19 genera. They occur in tropical Africa, Madagascar, the Mascarene and Comoros Islands and two genera in tropical America. They are distinguished from the other subtribes by having an apron-like rostellum, an elongate spur, and two pollinia. - Subtribe PolystachyinaePolystachyinaePolystachyinae is a subtribe within the tribe Vandeae in family Orchidaceae. It consists of 4 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....
(formerly part of the Epidendreae) : about 220 species in four genera : HederorkisHederorkisHederorkis is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.-Species:* Hederorkis scandens Thouars * Hederorkis seychellensis Bosser - References :...
, ImerinaeaImerinaeaImerinaea is a monotypic genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. The single species is Imerinaea madagascarica and is endemic to northern Madagascar. It is lithophilic and grows in shady areas under trees among mosses and lichens.- References :*Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J.,...
, NeobenthamiaNeobenthamiaNeobenthamia is a monotypic genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. The single species is Neobenthamia gracilis. It is lithophilic and grows among leaf litter and other detritus on rock faces. It is endemic to Tanzania....
, and PolystachyaPolystachyaPolystachya, abbreviated Pol in horticultural trade, is a flowering plant genus in the orchid family . This rather distinctive genus was described by William Jackson Hooker in 1824 and is the type genus of the subtribe Polystachyinae...
They all show four pollinia. The lip often has mealy hairs called pseudopollen on the upper surface.