Greek phaios – grey or swarthy; an allusion to the dark flowers of most species
Terrestrial or rarely epiphytic herbs, sympodial. Stems cylindrical or thickened into pseudobulbs, dense, sheathed by leaf bases. Leaves lateral to apical, 3 to several, large, thin, pleated, stalked. Inflorescences basal or lateral racemes, open or dense, erect or arching. Flowers resupinate, few-many, often large, variously coloured. Sepals similar, free, usually spreading. Petals similar to or slightly smaller than sepals, free. Labellum entire or 3-lobed, side lobes erect or embracing column, base fused to column, basal spur or pouch often present. Column short, winged, with a short foot. Pollinia 8, in 2 groups of 4, waxy.
About 30 species from tropical Africa through Asia to Australia and the Pacific Islands.
Robust terrestrial with large pleated leaves; flowers usually large and in long erect racemes.
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.