Orchid Information - Genus Podochilus

Podochilus Blume, Bijdr. (1825) 295, t. 12. Type species: Podochilus lucescens Blume.

Synonyms:

• Genus Apista Blume, Bijdr. (1825) 296. Type species: Apista tenuis Blume.
• Genus Cryptoglottis Blume, Bijdr. (1825) 296. Type species: Cryptoglottis serpyllifolia Blume.
• Genus Hexameria R.Br. in Benn., Pl. Jav. Rar. (1838) 26. t. 7. Type species: Hexameriadisticha R.Br.
• Genus Placostigma Blume, Fl. Javae (1828) 6.. Type species: Not designated
• Genus Platysma Blume, Bijdr. (1825) 295. Type species: Platysma gracilis Blume.

Small sympodial epiphytes or lithophytes. rarely terrestrials. Rhizomes very short, Stems either branching and forming dense mats, or not branched, tufted, elongated, wiry, not fleshy, many-leaved .Leaves duplicate, distichous, dorso-ventrally flattened or laterally compressed, deciduous or not, usually less than 1 cm long, stiffly thin-textured to carnose, glabrous; sheathing at the base. Inflorescence terminal, sometimes lateral as well, usually less than 2 cm long, a few- to several-flowered raceme or carrying a single flower. Flowers usually opening in succession, very small, resupinate, often hardly opening, usually whitish with purple spots at the apex. Lateral sepals connate at the base or free, forming a mentum, sometimes also the dorsal sepal connate with the lateral sepals. Petals free, usually narrower than the dorsal sepal. Lip entire or obscurely 3-lobed, without spur, not mobile, inside with a simple or 2-lobed appendage. Column foot present; anther erect; pollinia 4, solid, enveloped in tubular sheaths; caudicles absent; stipe absent; viscidium present.

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