Herbs, terrestrial, small to medium-sized, slender. Tubers subglobose, ovoid, or ellipsoid, not divided, fleshy. Stem usually erect, terete, glabrous, with 1-3 tubular sheaths near base and 1-5 leaves above. Leaves basal or cauline, alternate or rarely subopposite, basally contracted into clasping sheath, glabrous to sparsely pubescent. Inflorescence terminal, glabrous or pubescent; rachis laxly or densely 1-to many flowered; floral bracts lanceolate to ovate. Flowers resupinate, secund or not, small to medium-sized; ovary twisted, often slightly arcuate, glabrous or pubescent. Sepals free; dorsal sepal erect, often concave; lateral sepals spreading. Petals often connivent with dorsal sepal and forming a hood; lip entire or 3-or 4-lobed, spurred at base or rarely spurless; spur usually as long as ovary. Column stout; anther erect, base firmly adnate to apex of column, with 2 parallel locules; pollinia 2, granular-farinaceous, sectile, each attached to a viscidium by a slender caudicle; each viscidium enclosed in a sticky globe, both globes enclosed in a common bursicle formed by folding of rostellar arms; stigma concave, beneath rostellum; rostellum protruding, with 2 arms; auricles 2, usually prominent, one on each side of column. Capsule erect.
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