Maxillarieae

Maxillarieae is a large and complex tribe of orchids native to South and Central America. Within the tribe there are eight subtribes one of which is that of the genus Maxillaria. Tribe Maxillarieae contains 70 to 80 genera with about 1,000 species; most grow in tropical America as terrestrials or epiphytes, a few are myco-heterotrophs (formerly called saprophytes). Most show pseudobulbs, but a few have reedlike stems or thick underground stems. Blooms have four pollinia.