FORM Terrestrial perennial herbs from rhizomes or fleshy roots, sometimes epiphytic.

Genera 735  (835⁶⁹)

Species 17,000 (25,000 ⁶⁹)in our area 76 (Gray); 67 (B&B)⁴³

Distribution Tropical and temperate regions

Flowers Perfect irregular, solitary, spike or raceme, bilaterally symmetrical usually with a large lower lip.

#Parts 6 segments in 2 whorls 1-2flower parts in 3’s petals and sepals often similar (tepals)

Symmetry bilateral

Leaves Parallel-veined, often fleshy with sheathing bases, basal or alternate unlobed and without stalks.