Orchids and related plants: Is your plant in one of these subgroups?
Please go through the subgroups in order.
![Flowers: Cypripedium parviflorum. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Orchidaceae/cypripedium-parviflorum-parviflorum-fl-ahaines.jpg)
![Inflorescences: Epipactis helleborine. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Orchidaceae/epipactis-helleborine-in-ahaines.jpg)
![Plant form: Goodyera pubescens. ~ By Jill Weber. ~ Copyright © 2024 Jill Weber. ~ jillweber03[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Orchidaceae/goodyera-pubescens-ha-jweber-b.jpg)
![Flowers: Isotria verticillata. ~ By Frank Bramley. ~ Copyright © 2024 New England Wild Flower Society. ~ Image Request, images[at]newenglandwild.org](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Orchidaceae/isotria-verticillata-fl-fbramley-a.jpg)
![Flowers: Platanthera lacera. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Orchidaceae/platanthera-lacera-fl-ahaines-a.jpg)
Orchids
Plants in the family Orchidaceae
Key characteristics
Orchids have specialized, often showy flowers with colors and structures that attract insect pollinators. The flowers have a modified petal called a labellum that appears larger and/or more ornamented that the other petals and sepals. It is usually positioned as the lowermost petal. Orchids are easiest to tell apart by their flowers, so try to observe a mature, flowering plant. Notice whether the leaves all grow at the base of the plant, or whether some grow on the stem. Some orchids produce leaves with green-and-white or spotted color patterns.
Exceptions
Orchid leaves can be confused with lily leaves, but orchid flowers--with a large, modified labellum (lower part of the flower, resembling a lip)--are very different from all other monocots.
Video about this subgroup
Orchids![Flowers: Arisaema triphyllum. ~ By Adelaide Pratt. ~ Copyright © 2024 New England Wild Flower Society. ~ Image Request, images[at]newenglandwild.org](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Araceae/arisaema-triphyllum-fl-apratt.jpg)
![Plant form: Asparagus officinalis. ~ By Marilee Lovit. ~ Copyright © 2024 Marilee Lovit. ~ lovitm[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Asparagaceae/asparagus-officinalis-ha-mlovit-a.jpg)
![Plant form: Iris versicolor. ~ By Ben Kimball. ~ Copyright © 2024 Ben Kimball. ~ alpinefin[at]comcast.net](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Iridaceae/iris-versicolor-ha-bkimball.jpg)
![Fruits: Lilium canadense. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Liliaceae/lilium-canadense-fr-ahaines-b.jpg)
![Fruits: Maianthemum canadense. ~ By Adelaide Pratt. ~ Copyright © 2024 New England Wild Flower Society. ~ Image Request, images[at]newenglandwild.org](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Ruscaceae/maianthemum-canadense-fr-apratt-d.jpg)
![Flowers: Sagittaria latifolia. ~ By Albert Bussewitz. ~ Copyright © 2024 New England Wild Flower Society. ~ Image Request, images[at]newenglandwild.org](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Alismataceae/sagittaria-latifolia-fl-abussewitz-a.jpg)
![Leaves: Smilax herbacea. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Smilacaceae/smilax-herbacea-le-ahaines-b.jpg)
![Flowers: Uvularia sessilifolia. ~ By Adelaide Pratt. ~ Copyright © 2024 New England Wild Flower Society. ~ Image Request, images[at]newenglandwild.org](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Colchicaceae/uvularia-sessilifolia-fl-apratt-b.jpg)
Irises, lilies, and other "monocots"
Lilies, irises, aroids and others
Key characteristics
"Monocots" broadly include grasses, sedges, and orchids (all plants whose embryos have only one leaf). In this key, we separate out these other categories and just include here the remaining species, which typically have somewhat to very showy flowers with 3 or 6 petal-like parts. The flowers are usually radially symmetrical (but there are exceptions). Note the habitat the plant is growing in; this is helpful in narrowing down the species.
Exceptions
Not all these plants have leaves with parallel veins. Sometimes the flowers are not radially symmetrical, but unlike orchids, one flower part is not enlarged or modified.
Video about this subgroup
Irises, lilies, other monocotsMy plant isn't in these subgroups.