Aphyllorchis

Neottieae subtribe Limodorinae

Achlorophyllous saprophytes with thick spreading roots. Stems erect, unbranched. Leaves absent. Inflorescences terminal racemes, the floral bracts conspicuous. Flowers dull-colored. Sepals and petals free, spreading, subsimilar, subequal. Lip three-lobed. Column elongate, arching, without wings or a foot; pollinia 2, naked.

From the Greek aphyllos, meaning leafless, and orchis, meaning orchid, referring to the plants’ lack of leaves.

A genus of about 15 species ranging from India and Sri Lanka to Japan, the Philippines, and Australia.

Bhattacharyya, U. C. and A. K. Goel 1982. Aphyllorchis parviflora King & Pantl., new distribution record of a rare orchid from Tehri Garwhal Western Himalaya, India. J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. Jodphur. 3:588-590.

Dockrill, A. W. 1965. The genus Aphyllorchis Blume in Australia. Orchadian 1(10):115-117.

Vajravelu, E. and N. C. Rathakrishnan 1969. Aphyllorchis prainii Hook.f. (Orchidaceae), a new record for South India. Bull. Bot. Soc. India 10(1):97-99.