Greek erion – wool; an allusion to the hairy flowers of the genus.
Epiphytic, epilithic or rarely terrestrial herbs, sympodial, with creeping rhizomes. Stems cane-like or thickened into variously shaped pseudobulbs, often densely sheathed. Leaves lateral and/or apical, 1?many, thin to leathery. Inflorescences apical or axillary racemes, erect to pendent, glabrous or hairy. Flowers resupinate, 1-many, small to medium sized, variously coloured. Sepals similar, dorsal free, laterals sometimes broader and fused to column foot forming a small pouch. Petals smaller than sepals, free. Labellum entire or 3-lobed, joined to column foot, often with calli or ridges. Column short to long, with a long foot. Pollinia 8, waxy.
About 350 species from India to SE Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea,Australia and Pacific Isalands.
Plants often have hairy pseudobulbs, inflorescences or flowers; flowers generally small and not particularly 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.
