The stamen (Ai) of Epipogium has a discrete filament and there is no broad in sertion of the large anther. In the anther the pollinia and the caudicles develop differently from those of the Orchioideae in a way characteristic of the genus. The rostellum consists of a simple gland crowning the top of the median stigmatic lobe. This gland lies on top (is acrotonic) of the pollinia (and not basitonic). The common characteristics make it clear that the genus Epipogium should be referred to the contribe of the Neottianthae (subfamilia Epidendroideae).