Greek gramma – letter; angos – vessel; a possible allusion to the reddish-purple lines on the labellum.
Epiphytic herbs, sympodial. Stems thickened into 4-angled pseudobulbs, without sheaths when mature. Leaves apical, 2?5, oblong, fleshy, persistent. Inflorescences basal racemes, arching. Flowers resupinate, many, medium sized to large, yellowish with darker markings. Sepals similar, spreading, dorsal free, laterals fused at base and to column foot forming a pouch. Petals much smaller than sepals, joined at base, spreading. Labellum 3-lobed, joined to tip of column foot, ridged at base. Column thick, fleshy, with a short foot. Pollinia 2, stalkless.
About 3 species from Madagascar, SE Asia and Indonesia.
Similar to Cymbidium but with the lateral sepals fused at base and to column foot forming a pouch.
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.
