This family contains perennial herbs with often fleshy roots. The leaves are entire, usually sheathing the stems. The flowers are irregular, usually with a large lip. With the execption of Cypripedium all of the genera have a single stamen with pollen granes united into 4-8 masses called pollinia. Very pretty flowers but a difficult family to work with.
Genera found in Manitoba:
Arethusa Calopogon Claypso Corallorhiza Cypripedium Goodyera Habenaria see Coeloglossum & Platanthera Liparis Listera Malaxis Orchis Pogonia Spiranthes