Derivation of genus name: Coined by Blume in 1825 from the Greek cheir (hand) and stylis (style) in reference to the anther-bearing part of the column being lobed and bearing a fanciful resemblance to a hand. They are deciduous lithophytic or terrestrial herbs.

Type species:Cheirostylis montana Blume

Characteristics of genus: Small terrestrial herbs, somewhat inconspicuous, with caterpillar-like rhizomes thicker than the erect stem. The several leaves are petiolate, green or light brown with paler area along mid vein. Flowers are small on a terminal, small raceme, sepals connate for about half their length, petals small, mostly concealed.

Number of sections and/or subsections in genus:

Number of species in New Guinea: Two species and one variety are known from New Guinea, C. dendrophila, C. dendrophila var. lancilabris Schlechter and C. grandiflora Blume.

Species shown here: Cheirostylis dendrophila Schlechter
drawn by N.H.S. Howcroft from live specimen ex Wau, Morobe Province
Key to Illustration:A: habitat; B: flower, front view

Habitat: Mostly found growing in shaded moist areas, near rocks and streams, on the surface of partly exposed soil or on pure leaf litter and on rock faces. The above mentioned species do not develop roots but have minute hairs on the concave contact surface of the succulent rhizomes by which means they can cling to wet rocks. Their altidutinal range is from sea level to about 600 m.

Conservation status: not threatened