Evergreen straggly orchids, mostly terrestrial, with tall unbranched leafy stems, either closely crowded or widely spaced on creeping rhizome. Leaves sessile, base sheathing, blade spreading, borne alternately on upper two-thirds of each stem. Inflorescence simple or branched, arising either from lateral nodes or terminating a stem. Aerial growths frequently produced on the inflorescence stalk. Flowers opening widely, moderately large, colourful, short-lived, produced in succession from zigzagged apical part of inflorescence covered with imbricate bracts. Tepals free. Sepals narrower and often differently coloured than petals. Labellum attached to anterior base of column. Labellum lamina 3-lobed; lateral lobes erect and column-embracing; midlobe projected forwards like landing platform.
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