Orchids with sympodial growth have a specialized lateral growth pattern in which the terminal
bud dies. The growth continues by development of new shoots sprouting from or next to those of previous years (such as in the genus
Cattleya or
Cymbidium). The base of the
stem of sympodial
epiphytes, or in some species essentially the entire stem, may be thickened to form what is called a
pseudobulb. These contain food reserves for drier periods. At their end appear one or two
leaves, or sometimes four or more. Some sympodial
terrestrials, such as
Orchis and
Ophrys, have two pseudobulbs between the
roots. One is used as a food reserve for wintery periods, and provides for the development of the other pseudobulb, from which visible growth develops.
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