Greek spathe – a blade; glotta – tongue; an allusion to the shape of the labellum.
Terrestrial herbs, sympodial. Stems thickened into ovoid pseudobulbs, dense, covered with papery sheaths. Leaves lateral to apical, 1?several, large, thin, pleated, sheathing at base. Inflorescences lateral racemes, erect, stout. Flowers resupinate, many, medium sized to large, variously coloured. Sepals similar, free, spreading. Petals broader than sepals, free. Labellum deeply 3-lobed, side lobes erect or spreading, midlobe with 2 small basal lobes and prominent basal callus. Column slender, arched. Pollinia 8, in 2 groups of 4, club-shaped.
About 50 species from India to Australia and China.
Robust terrestrial with large pleated leaves; labellum cross-shaped.
Cribb & Tang (1981).
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.