Goodyera R. Brown
in W.T. Aiton, Hortus Kewensis, ed. 2, 5 (1813), 197

Introduction: The genus of some 165 terrestrial species is widely distributed throughout East and Southeast Asia through to New Guinea, a number of Pacific Islands, Australia, North America and the West Indies, but not in Africa.

Derivation of genus name: Commemorating John Goodyer (1592-1664), an English plant collector and botanist, the genus was described by Robert Brown in 1813.

Type species: Goodyera repens (Linne) R. Brown, Basionym: Satyrium repens Linne

Characteristics of the genus: The creeping rhizome of the plants bury their roots in the forest humus. The small flowers of the species are dull-coloured, hairy or glabrous with the dorsal sepal overlapping the petals to form a loose hood.

Species shown here: Goodyera grandis (Bl.) Blume
drawn by N.H.S. Howcroft from live specimen ex Bulolo, Morobe Province

Key to Illustration: A: habit; B: flower, side view; C: flower, front view; D: column and anther, side view

Habitat: In New Guinea the genus is widespread, extending from the lowland rain forests to the forests of the upper montane zone where the species grow in the forest undergrowth in damp conditions in leaf litter and soil. At higher elevation plants may be found growing in moss on the trunks of trees in shaded situations.

Conservation status: not threatened