Orchids with
monopodial growth habits grow upward from a single point. They add leaves to the apex each year and the stem grows longer accordingly. Flowers generally come from the stem between the leaves. Many orchids in this group produce copious aerial roots that often hang down in long drapes and have green
chlorophyll underneath the grey
root coverings which are used as additional photosynthetic organs. They do not have a
rhizome or
pseudobulbs so species adapted to dry periods have fleshy succulent leaves instead.
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