Abstract

The floral anatomy of four species of spiranthoid orchids, Corymborkis veratrifolia, Tropidia angulosa, Goodyera procera and Zeuxine longilabris is described in details. Six vascular bundles which are arranged in a discontinuous ring at the base of the pedicel divide in various patterns to supply the individual floral organs except in Zeuxine longilabris where nine vascular bundles are seen at the base of the pedicel which later by anastomosis and division from the three placental bundles that supply the ovules levels. In Goodyera procero three vascular bundles enter the base of the pedicel. The double nature of the ovule bearing placental bundle is clearly observed in all the species except in Tropidia angulosa where it is seem to be obliterated. The gynostemium appendixin Corymborkis veratrifolia is non-vascularised. In Zeuxine longilabris the vestigial staminal trace traverses only up to the middle of the gynostemium and then disappers. The vestigial staminal traces of the