Greek kyon – dog; orchis – testis; the plants have small testicle-like tubers.
Terrestrial or occasionally epiphytic or epilithic herbs, sympodial, with long fleshy or tuberous roots. Stems short, often glandular-hairy. Leaves mostly basal, 1 to several, stem leaves small. Inflorescences terminal, erect, open or dense. Flowers usually resupinate, few-many, mostly small, often showy, usually pink or purplish. Sepals similar, free or slightly joined to labellum. Petals forming a hood with dorsal sepal. Labellum entire or 3?5 lobed, prominent, spurred at base. Column short, thick. Pollinia 2. Syn. Cynosorchis, Cynorchis.
About 130 species from Africa, Madagascar and nearby islands.
Mostly terrestrials with large basal leaves; flowers many, brightly coloured and showy.
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.