Greek cycnos – swan; auchen – neck; the column of the male flower is slender and arching, resembling a swan’s neck.
Epiphytic or terrestrial herbs, sympodial, with short creeping rhizomes. Stems thickened into conical to spindle-shaped pseudobulbs, sheathed. Leaves lateral, in 2 ranks, thin textured, deciduous, bases persistent. Inflorescences lateral racemes, arching or pendent. Flowers usually non-resupinate, few-many, small to large, usually unisexual with males and females appearing on separate racemes, variously coloured. Sepals similar, free, spreading or curved backwards. Petals similar to sepals but usually broader, free. Labellum entire or lobed, toothed or fringed. Male flowers numerous. Column slender, arching. Pollinia 2, waxy. Female flowers few. Column short, fleshy.
About 12 species from Mexico, C and S America.
The presence of male and female flowers, usually on separate inflorescences; slender arching column on male flowers.
Source: (2005). Orchidaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
