Description: Terrestrial herbs, sympodial; roots subterranean, fibrous. Stems differentiated into rhizome and pseudobulb; pseudobulb of several internodes, held above ground.
Leaves scattered along the pseudobulb, several per shoot, usually distichous, plicate, sometimes petiolate.
Inflorescence racemose, several–many-flowered, terminal; flowers resupinate. Dorsal sepal free, longer and narrower than lateral sepals. Lateral sepals free. Lateral petals free, about as long as, or slightly shorter than dorsal sepal. Labellum free, attached at base of column; lamina unlobed, bearing 2 spur-like calli on a small plate near the base. Column lacking free filament and style; column wings fused to column, expansive in upper half, narrow. Column foot absent. Anther incumbent, cap-like. Pollinia 4, waxy. Stigma entire. Rostellum not prominent, ventral.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 25 spp., C & S America, SE Asia, Malesia, Melanesia, N.Cal. Aust.: 3 spp. (endemic), Qld, N.S.W.
Text by P. H. Weston
Taxon concept: D.L. Jones & M.A. Clements (2004, Orchadian 14 (Scientific Supplement): i-xvi).
| One species in NSW: Diteilis simmondsii |
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