Greek mormo – phantom; eides – resembling; an allusion to the strange appearance of the flowers.
Epiphytic, epilithic or terrestrial herbs, sympodial, with short creeping rhizomes. Stems thickened into cylindrical to spindle-shaped pseudobulbs, sheathed at base. Leaves lateral, in 2 ranks, folded, thin, deciduous, bases persistent. Inflorescences lateral racemes, erect or arching. Flowers resupinate, few-many, medium sized to large, bisexual or unisexual, variously coloured. Sepals similar, free, spreading or curved backwards. Petals similar to sepals, free. Labellum entire or 3-lobed, fleshy, often curved backwards, margins often rolled under. Column erect, twisted to 1 side of flower. Pollinia 2 or 4, waxy.
About 20 species from Mexico, C and S America.
The column twisted to one side of flower.
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.
