Epiphytic herbs. Pseudobulbs stout, cylindric, tapering uniformly from the base upward, 10-35 cm. tall and 1-5 cm. wide. Leaves 5-15, plicate, distichous, strongly veined, the persistent, closely imbricating, unarmed bases closely envelop-ing the pseudobulbs, the lanceolate, acuminate blades deciduous at the end of the growing season. Inflorescences 1 to several, erect, arching racemes produced in succession from near the base of the pseudobulbs. Flowers few to many, variable in color, size, and texture. Sepals subequal, membranaceous, yellow, olive-green, tan-brown or red, often with minute spots, the dorsal sepal erect, lanceolate, acuminate or apiculate, 1.8-2.8 cm. long and .5-.7 cm. wide, the laterals lanceolate, acuminate, strongly reflexed, 1.5-2.7 cm. long and .4-.7 cm. wide. Petals subequal to the sepals, similarly colored, elliptic-lanceolate, acute, usually strongly reflexed, 2-2.5 cm. long and .6-.8 cm. wide. Lip suborbicular when spread out, shortly apiculate, glabrous, usually fleshy to very fleshy, white, yellow, olive-green, tan, brown, or dark reddish brown, often with minute brown or reddish brown spots, the lateral margins strongly reflexed, the base conspicuously clawed. Column twisted to one side, typical of the genus.
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