Aphyllorchis Blume
Tab. Pl. Jav. Orchid. t. 77 (1825)

Introduction: About twelve little known, rare, saprophytic orchid species distributed from Ceylon to New Guinea and Australia.

Author and derivation of genus name: From the Greek a (without) phyllon (leaf) orchis (testicle) referring to the leafless state of these orchids.

Type species: Aphyllorchis pallida Blume

Characteristics of genus: Plants are leafless saprophytes with an erect subterranean stem with numerous thick fleshy roots. Inflorescence an erect loose raceme of flowers subtended by a pendent floral bracts, peduncle with several bracts. Flowers mostly wide opening, petals and sepals of more or less equal length. Labellum three-lobed, side lobes erect and placed at the base. Column long, slender and unwinged.

Number of sections and/or subsections in genus: none described

Estimated number of species in New Guinea: Probably five species of which Schlechter describes two species for New Guinea A. torricellensis and A. elata

Species shown here: Aphyllorchis elata Schltr.
Drawn from live specimen by N.H.S. Howcroft

Key to Illustration: A Plant and inflorescence (40 mm scale) B Dorsal sepal C Lateral sepal D Petal E labellum, from above (all to 5 mm scale) F Column showing stigma (4 mm scale)

Habitat: Growing in humus their rhizomes are buried deeply in the soil and the pseudobulbs can reach a height of 25-150 cm.

Conservation status: Not known