Description: Terrestrial herbs, sympodial; roots subterranean, filamentous; tuberoids paired.
Leaves basal, 2–5 per shoot, spirally arranged, conduplicate.
Inflorescence racemose, usually >1-flowered, terminal; flowers resupinate. Dorsal sepal free, much shorter than lateral sepals, hood-like. Lateral sepals free, filiform. Lateral petals free, shorter than dorsal sepal. Labellum free, attached at base of column; lamina 3-lobed, with 2 basal swellings and one at base of midlobe. Column with stamen and style almost completely free, stubby; column wings almost entirely free, arm-like. Column foot absent. Anther erect, parallel to the axis of the column, persistent. Pollinia 2, soft and mealy. Stigma entire. Rostellum apical.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 5 species, Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand. Australia: 1 species (native).
Text by P. Bernhardt
Taxon concept:
| One species in NSW: Orthoceras strictum |
|
