Cystorchis Blume,
Coll. Orchid. (1858) 87
Small sympodial terrestrial plants, sometimes leafless, and then with underground rhizome. Stem, if present, elongated, slightly succulent, basal part creeping, forming a rhizome, apical part erect, short. Leaves, if present, few, crowded at the stem-apex, spirally arranged, sheathing at the base, glabrous, persistent, convolute, often dark brown, herbaceous. Inflorescence terminal, a few to many-flowered raceme. Flowers small, resupinate, not widely opening. Sepals free. Petals free, about as long as the dorsal sepal, usually cohering at the apices. Lip with a very short spur, at the base usually with two blister-like swellings, each with a small wart inside, not mobile. Column-foot absent. Pollinia 2, sectile, caudicles present, stipe absent, viscidium present. Stigma lobes not separated.
Distribution
Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Pacific islands, east to Vanuatu. About 20 species; in New Guinea c. 5 species.
Habitat
Terrestrial in lowland and montane forest.
Notes
This uncommon genus is easily recognised by the pair of blister-like swellings at the base of the lip (with a few exceptions that need further study). The leaves are often dark brown with paler markings. Rarely cultivated.