Description: Perennial herbs with shoots with well-developed stems.
Leaves numerous.
Inflorescence many-flowered, terminal on leafy shoot; bracts broad and closely imbricate, or narrow and far apart. Flowers usually 2 or 3 per bract, rather large; bracteoles tubular. Outer tepal tube slender, the teeth short and unequal; inner tepal tube slender and usually much longer than outer tube; inner tepals narrow, lobes more or less equal. Labellum conspicuous, usually 2-lobed; lateral staminodes petaloid; stamen long and slender. Ovary 3-locular, hairy.
Fruit a loculicidal capsule.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 45 species, mostly Himalayas, with a few in southern India, Malaysia, Indon. & Australia. Australia: 2 species (naturalized), Qld, N.S.W.
Text by Peter G. Wilson & S. M. Hastings
Taxon concept:
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