Microspermae is an order of flowering plants represented by the family Orchidaceae.[1] It is a descriptive botanical name referring to the size of the seed; it was used for the order containing the orchids.

Phalaenopsis orchid

In taxonomical systems this name has now mostly dropped out of use, being displaced by the name Orchidales (formed from the family name Orchidaceae). The name Microspermae was used in the Bentham & Hooker and the Engler systems. The Wettstein system also used a descriptive name, but preferred Gynandrae.

Microspermae in the Bentham & Hooker system

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Microspermae in the Engler system

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References

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  1. ^ Johri, Brij M.; Ambegaokar, Kunda B.; Srivastava, Prem S. (1992), Johri, Brij M.; Ambegaokar, Kunda B.; Srivastava, Prem S. (eds.), "Microspermae", Comparative Embryology of Angiosperms: Vol. 1, 2, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer, pp. 993–1005, doi:10.1007/978-3-642-76395-3_65, ISBN 978-3-642-76395-3, retrieved 2024-09-20