Subfamily: Orchidoideae Tribe: Orchideae

Sub tribe: orchidinae(Habenariinae)

Derivation of name: Latin habena, reins referring to the long strap like division of petals & lip
Salient features: 

• Terrestrial plants, rarely epiphytic herbs e.g., Habenaria crinifera Lindl.

• Roots tuberous fleshy

• Stem unbranched

• Sepals usually free

• Dorsal sepal forming hood with petals

• Petals entire, two lobed or bifid

• Labellum entire or three lobed, spurred at the base 

• Side lobes sometimes divided, 

• Spur long or short, slender or saccate, often inflated at the apex 

• Column long or short

• Anther erect or reclined loculi adjacent or separated by ‘U’ shaped connective

• Anther canal long or short, divergent, almost always adnate to the side lobes of rostellum

• Lateral appendages two, sometimes two lobed

• Pollinia two, sectile, long or short caudicle, small naked viscidium

• Stigmatic processes two, long or short usually free but sometimes joined in lower part of rostellum