The leaves have a spongy chlorenchyma and the smaller and larger vascular bundles are intercalated, in all Orchidaceae studied (Catasetum fimbriatum Lindl., Dichaea bryophila Rchb. f., Encyclia calamaria (Lindl.) Pabst, E. campestre Lindl., E. secundum Jacq., Miltonia flavescens Lindl., Pleurothallis smithiana Lindl., Stanhopea lietzei (Regel) Schltr. e Vanda tricolor Lindl.). Most of the leaves studied have sclerified cells close to both surfaces. Structural characters, which could be considered leaf adaptations to an epiphytic habit, were common for most species.
Leaf anatomy; Orchidaceae; epiphytism
