Greek gramma – letter; phyllon – a leaf; an apparent allusion to the dark conspicuous markings on the sepals and petals.
Epiphytic, epilithic or rarely terrestrial herbs, sympodial, with numerous white erect or spreading branched roots. Stems cane-like or thickened into pseudobulbs, short to very long, clustered. Leaves lateral and/or apical, 2 to many, strap-like, leathery, stalkless. Inflorescences basal racemes, erect or pendent. Flowers resupinate, many, medium sized to large, lower flowers often sterile, variously coloured. Sepals and petals similar, free, spreading. Labellum 3-lobed, small, side lobes erect around column, midlobe short, often curved under. Column short, erect. Pollinia 2, almost spherical.
About 12 species from SE Asia, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea and Polynesia.
Some species have extremely long cane-like stems; medium sized to large heavily blotched 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.
