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Lip about as long as the sepals, epichile ± 3-lobed with the central lobe longer than the lateral lobes, hypochile concave, leading into the spur, frequently with calli between hypochile and epichile; spur terete to bifid, slender to clavate, almost always shorter than the lip, generally straight.
Sepals subequal, usually 3-nerved; lateral sepals suboblique, to 14 mm long, lanceolate to ovate, acute; dorsal sepal usually shorter than the lateral sepals, narrowly to broadly elliptic, or elliptic-oblong to rotund, often apiculate, shallowly galeate.
Leaves 5–30, linear, rarely elliptic, narrowly oblanceolate or ovate; lower leaves with free blades up to 15 cm long, acute, midrib prominent below; upper leaves lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, erect, grading into the floral bracts.
Inflorescence mostly nodding, lax to dense; bracts narrowly ovate to narrowly lanceolate, usually acuminate, green, about as long as the ovary.
Rostellum 3-lobed, the central lobe a fold between the anther cells, the lateral lobes square, carrying the naked viscidia.
Petals one third to two thirds as long as the sepals, single-veined, oblique, ± rhomboid and acute.
Stigma flat, single, borne on the column below the rostellum, above the entrance to the spur.
Flowers white, white and yellow, yellow or white with a mauve tint, 1.5–10 mm in diameter.
Basal sheath(s) hyaline or white, less than 5 cm long, obtuse or acute.
Anther erect or at an angle of 45°, 0.5–1.5 mm long.
Stems slender, mostly flexuose, 5–80 cm tall.
Ovary 4–14 mm long, flowers not resupinate.
Terrestrial herb with perennating tubers.
Tubers 1–5 cm long, testicular.
