Some orchids have secondarily lost this resupination, e.g. Zygopetalum and Epidendrum secundum.

This characteristic, called resupination, occurs primitively in the family and is considered apomorphic (the torsion of the ovary is very evident from the picture).

The stigma sits at the apex of the column in the front, but is pointing downwards after resupination (the rotation by 180 degrees before unfolding of the flower).

Because resupination is the most common condition in orchid flowers, the lack of resupination is notable; flowers which do not exhibit resupination are described as "non-resupinate."