with
monopodial growth habits grow upward from a single point. They add leaves to the apex each year and the stem grows longer accordingly. The word
Monopodial is derived from
Greek language 'mono-',
one and 'podial', "foot", in reference to the fact that monopodial plants have a single trunk or stem.
[http://botanydictionary.org/monopodial-branching.html Dictionary of Botany]
Orchidaceae with monopodial growth often produce copious aerial roots that often hang down in long drapes and have green chlorophyll underneath the grey root coverings, which are used as additional photosynthetic organs. They do not have a rhizome or so species adapted to dry periods have fleshy Succulent plant leaves instead. Flowers generally come from the stem between the leaves. With some monopodial species, the stem (the rhizome) might fork into two, but for all monopodial orchids this is not necessary for continued growth, as opposed to orchids with sympodial growth.[ The Orchid Expert, Dr. D. G. Hessayon, Expert Books, Transworld Publishers, London, ]