Learn about the comparison between Amaryllidaceae and Orchidaceae.

Comparison # Amaryllidaceae:

1. Habit-Plants herbaceous or woddy.

2. Root-Adventitious, fibrous.

3. Stem-Underground, rhizome or bulb.

4. Leaves-Simple, mostly radical, also cauline, alternate narrow, entire, sometimes thick and fleshy with coating of wax (Agave).

5. Inflorescence-Solitary terminal on a scape or cymose (umbel).

6. Flower-Bracteate, actinomorphic rarely zygomorphic, bisexual, eipgynous, spathe covers the flowers at first.

7. Perianth-6, in two whorls of 3 each, mostly gamophyllous (Narcissus), sometime polyphyllous (Galanthus), petaloid.

8. Androecium-Stamens 6, in two whorls, epiphyllous, introrse, rarely extrorse. No pollinia.

9. Gynoecium-Carpels 3, syncarpous ovary inferior, trilocular, ovule many, placentation axile. Stigma simple or 3-lobed.

10. Fruit-Capsule or berry.

11. Seed-Black, endosperm fleshy.

Comparison # Orchidaceae:

1. Habit-Perennial herbs, terrestrial or epiphytic, a few saprophytic and parasitic.

2. Root-Adventitious, of 3 kinds, i.e., earth roots, fleshy tuberous roots and aerial roots with velamen.

3. Stem-Erect, climbing or trailing, often thickened into rhizome or pseudo-bulbs.

4. Leaves-Simple alternate, opposite or whorled entire, oval or linear, thick and coriaceous, reduced to scales in saprophytic and parasitic species.

5. Inflorescence-Raceme or spike.

6. Flower-Bracteate, zygomorphic, bisexual, epigynous.

7. Perianth-6, in two whorls of 3+3, distinguishable into sepals and petals, sepals similar, petals dissimilar the median petal is the largest and forms the lip or labellum.

8. Androecium-Stamens 1 or 2 adnate to the stylar column. Pollen-grains, frequently united forming pollinia.

9. Gynoecium-Carpels 3, syncarpous, ovary inferior unilocular many, placentation perietal, Stigma below the rostellum.

10. Fruit-Capsule.

11. Seed-Minute, light, non-endospermic, sometime winged.

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