Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Herbs, usually epiphytic.

Stems: Stemless to rarely caulescent.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Leaves many-ranked. Usually ligulate. Margins entire. Sheathing. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescences 5–many-flowered, many-ranked, mostly 2-pinnate to less commonly single spike, flowers laxly to densely arranged; floral bracts broad, conspicuous, mostly obscuring rachis. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Sepals distinct to connate over 1/2 length, usually symmetric. Petals with claws adherent to subconnate petal, forming short tube, blade distinct. Stamens 6, in 2 series of 3; Stamens usually included, adherent to adnate with petal claws. Ovary superior.

Fruit: Capsules cylindric; dehiscent. Seeds with basal; usually tan-brown plumose appendage.

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range: