THE SPECIES OF ORCHIDS I MIGHT ENCOUNTER

There are six distinct groups of orchids found in Vietnam. On the right, I have found some typical photos, showing the subfamilies characteristic.

The first group is the subfamily of Apostasioideae. It only have two genera with 15 species. In lack of other vascular name, I will call the "palm leaved-like". The inflorescent bears medium sized flowers, which can be more or less scatted. They are mainly terrestrial.

Second group contains the subfamily of Cypripedioideae, known as the "Lady's slipper orchids". Of its five genera with 120 species, only Paphiopedilum is found in Vietnam. Single, large flowers. Those orchids are in general epiphytic.

Third group is made of the subfamily of Spiranthoideae, which counts 95 genera with around 550 species. 18 of these genera can be found in Vietnam. Tiny flowers on a open, erect stalk. They are mainly terrestrial.

Forth group counts the numerous genera of the subfamily Orchidoideae known as the "Orchidoid orchids". They are mostly terrestrials with tubers or fleshy rhizomes. Medium size flowers sits on a rather open, erect inflorescent. They are mainly terrestrial too.

Fifth group is the huge subfamily of Epidendroideae. 576 genera with over 15,000 species. In Vietnam, four sub-groups are found: The primitive tribes (Lower Epidendroids), Epidendroid,  Dendrobioid and finaly Cymbidioid. In total, 60 genra can be found in Vietnam. A common characteristic is the more or less visible pseudubulbs. The flowers are rather large, sitting singularly on the stalks. They are mainly epiphytic, but there are a few terrestrial.

Sixth and last group holds the subfamily Vandoideae.  There are about 300 genera and 5000 species. Of these, 53 genera are present in Vietnam. The are easily recognised by their "fish-bone" structure. The flowers are relatively large, sitting in small till large groups.

 

ORCHIDACEAE Juss.  This list below only contain genera, not species. The key.

Subfam. 1. Apostasioideae Reichenb. 
Apostasia Blume, Neuwiedia Blume

Subfam. 2. Cypripedioideae Lindl.
Paphiopedilum Pfitz.

Subfam. 3. Spiranthoideae Dressler
Trib. 3.1. Tropidieae Dressler
Corymborkis Thouars, Tropidia Lindl.
Trib. 3.2. Cranichideae Endlicher
Subtrib. 3.2.1. Goodyerinae Klotzsch

Subtrib. 3.2.2. Spiranthinae Lindl.
Spiranthes L.C. Rich

Subfam. 4. Orchidoideae
Trib. 4.1. Diurideae Endlicher
Subtrib. 4.1.1. Acianthinae Schlecht.
Corybas Salisb.
Subtrib. 4.1.2. Cryptostylidinae Schlecht.
Cryptostylis R. Br.
Trib. 4.2. Orchideae
Subtrib. 4.2.1. Orchidinae Subtrib. 4.2.2. Habenariinae Benth.
Subfam. 5. Epidendroideae Lindl.
Group of primitive tribes
Trib. 5.1. Neottieae Lindl.
Aphyllorchis Blume, Epipactis Sw., Listera R. Br.
Trib. 5.2. Vanilleae Blume
Subtrib. 5.2.1. Galeolinae Garay
Cyrtosia Blume, Erythrorchis Blume, Galeola Lour.
Subtrib. 5.2.2. Vanillinae Lindl.
Vanilla Sw.
Subtrib. 5.2.3. Lecanorchidinae Dressler
Lecanorchis Blume
Trib. 5.3. Gastrodieae Lindl.
Subtrib. 5.3.1. Gastrodiinae Lindl. Subtrib. 5.3.2. Epipogiinae Schlecht.
Epipogium R. Br., Stereosandra Blume
Trib. 5.4. Nervilieae Dressler
Nervilia Gaudich.
Epidendroid group
Trib. 5.5. Arethuseae Lindl.
Subtrib. 5.5.1. Arundinae Dressler
Arundina Blume
Subtrib. 5.5.2. Bletiinae Benth. Trib. 5.6. Malaxideae Lindl.
Subtrib. 5.6.1. Malaxidinae Benth. et Hook. f.
Liparis L.C. Rich., Malaxis Sw.
Subtrib. 5.6.2. Oberoniinae Aver.
Hippeophyllum Schlecht., Oberonia Lindl.
Trib. 5.7. Coelogyneae Pfitz.
Subtrib. 5.7.1. Thuniinae Schlecht.
Thunia Reichenb.
Subtrib. 5.7.2. Coelogyninae Bentham Trib. 5.8. Epidendreae Humb., Bonpl. et Kunth
Subtrib. 5.8.1. Glomerinae Schlecht.
Agrostophyllum Blume
Subtrib. 5.8.2. Polystachyinae Pfitz.
Polystachya Hook.
Dendrobioid group
Trib. 5.9. Podochileae Pfitz.
Subtrib. 5.9.1. Eriinae Benth. Subtrib. 5.9.2. Podochilinae Benth. et Hook.
Appendicula Blume, Podochilus Blume
Subtrib. 5.9.3. Thelasiinae Schlecht.
Phreatia Lindl., Thelasis Blume
Subtrib. 5.9.4. Dendrobiinae Lindl.
Dendrobium Sw., Epigeneium Gagnep., Flickingeria Hawkes
Subtrib. 5.9.5. Bulbophyllinae Schlecht. Cymbidioid group
Trib. 5.10. Cymbidieae Pfitz.
Subtrib. 5.10.1. Bromheadiinae Dressler
Bromheadia Lindl.
Subtrib. 5.10.2. Eulophiinae Benth.
Eulophia R. Br., Dipodium R. Br., Geodorum Jackson
Subtrib. 5.10.3. Collabiinae Schlecht.
Chrysoglossum Blume, Collabium Blume, Diglyphosa Blume
Subtrib. 5.10.4. Thecostelinae Schlecht.
Thecopus Seidenf., Thecostele Reichenb.
Subtrib. 5.10.5. Cymbidiinae Benth.
Cremastra Lindl., Cymbidium Sw.
Subtrib. 5.10.6. Acriopsidinae Dressler
Acriopsis Blume

Subfam. 6. Vandoideae
Trib. 6.1. Vandeae Lindl.
Subtrib. 6.1.1. Aeridinae Pfitz.