Herbs, epiphytic or lithophytic, monopodial, usually stemless and leafless. Roots green, photosynthetic, flat, scabrid. Inflorescence often pendulous, racemose, hairy or glabrous. Flowers ephemeral. Sepals and petals subequal; lateral sepals and petals often adnate to column foot. Lip ± clawed, hinged to apex of column foot, pouched or spurred, 3-lobed; lateral lobes erect, large; mid-lobe small; disk with a fingerlike callus, hirsute-pubescent. Column subterete, short, foot long; clinandrium shallow; stigma deep-set; rostellum deflexed, bifid; anther cap with 2 long filiform setae; pollinia 4, in 2 closely appressed, unequal, sessile pairs; stipe sublinear.

About ten species: from the Indian subcontinent through SE Asia to Australia; three species (all endemic) in China.

(Authors: Chen Xinqi (陈心启 Chen Sing-chi); Jeffrey J. Wood)