In a message dated 7/1/04 6:05:37 AM, Martin Epstein writes: > I believe that the defining characteristic, that is, what separates orchids > from other flowering plants, is the union of the male and female sexual > organs into a single entity, the column. > The Orchidaceae are not the only family with a column. Hoyas also have a column. The distinction of orchids is that they have a column and one petal modified into a lip. Iris
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