View source for Aorchis

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Aorchis
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Monocotyledon|Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
| familia = [[Orchidaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Orchidoideae]]
| tribus = Orchideae
| subtribus = Orchidinae
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = 
''Aorchis cyclochila'' <br />
''Aorchis spathulata''
}}

'''Aorchis''' Vermeulen 1972, is a small genus of two [[terrestrial plant |terrestrial]] species from the orchid family ([[Orchidaceae]]), subfamily [[Orchidoideae]], tribe Orchideae, subtribe Orchidinae.

These frequent species occur in shrubs and alpine meadows at elevations of 2300--4300 m, from the [[Himalaya]] to [[China]], [[Japan]], [[Korea]] and the Russian Far East, often forming extensive colonies. In the past they have been described as belonging to the genera ''[[Habenaria]]'',  ''[[Gymnadenia]]'' or ''[[Galeorchis]]''.

These orchids are between 8 and 15 cm tall. They have a [[sympodial]] growth, with long, slender, creeping [[rhizome]]s.

The erect [[Plant stem|stem]] is cylindric, with 1 or 2 tubular sheaths at its foot.

The broad, acute [[leaf|leaves]] are elliptic, spatulate or spatulate-oblanceolate. The plants show mostly two opposite leaves, (rarely 1 or 3) with a leafstalk, folded lengthwise.

The [[inflorescence]] (1,5 &ndash; 5 cm) is a raceme with 1-5  flowers; twisted to one side, growing on an erect scape (= naked peduncle rising from the ground). The main stalk is glabrous with spreading floral bracts. The glabrous, epigynous [[ovary (plants)|ovary]] is spindle-shaped. They bloom from July till August.

The pink  [[sepal]]s and [[petal]]s, are oblong with an obtuse apex. The dorsal sepals form a hood with the petals.

The  pink [[labellum|lip]] is marked with many purple dots and is as long as the sepals. It shows an oblong, elliptic or ovoid shape with a nearly entire margin. There is a short spur.


== Species ==
* ''Aorchis cyclochila'' (Russian Far East to Japan).
* ''Aorchis spathulata'' (Himalaya to SC. China). 


== Reference ==
Bergel, G., Aorchis cyclochila (Franch et Savat) Hashimoto - Die Orchidee 51 2000, Heft 2
[[Category:orchid genera]]