Plectorrhiza Dockrill

Greek plectos – twisted; rhizos – root; an allusion to the twisted mass of aerial roots.

Epiphytic or rarely epilithic herbs, monopodial. Stems pendent or erect, simple or branched, lacking pseudobulbs, roots mostly aerial. Leaves in 2 ranks, lanceolate to ovate, often curved, sheathing at base. Inflorescences axillary racemes, erect to pendent. Flowers resupinate, few to many, often fragrant, greenish or brownish with a mostly white labellum. Sepals and petals similar, free, narrow, spreading or curved inwards. Labellum 3-lobed, side lobes small, midlobe with a basal spur, callus with a hairy, finger-like projection. Column short, with a short foot. Pollinia 4, waxy.

3 species from E Australia.

Plant with a mass of aerial roots; labellum with a backward pointing cylindrical or chin-like spur.

Source: Jeanes, J. (2005). Orchidaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Lilianae
order      Asparagales
family       Orchidaceae
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