Petrosavia Becc.

Erect, glabrous, saprophytic, pale yellow or cream coloured, herbs lacking chlorophyll. Rhizome slender, simply or sparsely branched, bearing alternate, often imbricate scale-leaves. Aerial stems 1 or less often up to 3 or more, unbranched. Leaves scale-like, spiral, sessile, entire; the base usually partly embracing the stem, rather well-spaced. Raceme terminal, usually simple, sometimes corymbose. Pedicels solitary, with 0-2 alternate bracteoles near the centre or in the lower half (often concealed by the subtending bract), not articulated, in the axils of bracts resembling the scale-leaves. Perianth segments erect-spreading, with a single vein, cream-coloured to yellow; the outer 3 distinctly inserted outside the inner 3, even in the open flower, and narrower and shorter. Filaments sublinear attached to the receptacle or to the base of the perianth segments; anthers basifixed, introrse or dehiscing laterally. Ovary superior or semi-inferior; the 3 carpels free above the receptacle; styles 1 on each carpel, capitate or subcapitate; ovules attached to ventral surface, numerous, in 3-c. 6 rows. Fruit dry, dehiscing along the ventral suture; the 3 segments spreading. Seeds numerous, ovoid, with longitudinal ridges; perianth persistent.

Saprophytes on the forest flora, in Malesia in the hills at 1000-2000 m.