Epiphytic herbs with ovoid or subcylindric, more or less ridged pseudobulbs, the apex with a single broad, petiolate, plicate, strongly veined, elliptic-lanceolate leaf. Inflorescences short, pendulous racemes from the base of the pseudobulbs, the rachis enveloped in several broad, papery, imbricating bracts. Flowers usually large, conspicuous, 2 to about 9, on long pedicels, each shielded by a broad, papery, spathaceous bract. The genus is divided into two very distinct sections, ECORNUTA and EUSTANHOPEA, based on the structure of the lip. In both sections sepals membranaceous and concave, the dorsal sepal free and erect, the laterals broader, reflexed and connate at the base. Petals membranaceous, subequal to the dorsal sepal, but usually narrower, with undulate margins. In ECORNUTA: lip essentially simple and undivided, adnate to the base of the column, with an inflated, very fleshy, saccate or calceiform, basal claw or hypochile, surmounted by a much-reduced and confluent apical lobe. In EUSTANHOPEA: fleshy lip complexly 2-or 3-parted, inserted on the base of the column, usually divided into a subsaccate or cymbiform, basal claw or hypochile, with or without short, broad teeth on the inner margins of the basal concavity; a short mid-section or mesochile sometimes simple but more frequently with short or elongate, usually falcately incurved, acuminate, lateral horns, and an apical lobe or epichile which usually is articulated to the apex of the mesochile, entire and spreading, or 3-lobed and variously shaped. In both sections column elongate, somewhat arcuate, with or without broad lateral wings. Anther terminal, operculate, incumbent, 1-celled; pollinia 2, waxy.
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