Lecanorchis Blume
in Museum Botanicum Lugdano-Batavorum. 2; (1856), 188

Introduction: A genus of about twenty species recorded from Japan, Ryukyus, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Burma, Indonesia to New Guinea and some Pacific Islands

Derivation of genus name: Greek lekane (basin) and orchis (orchid).

Type species: Lecanorchis japonica Blume

Characteristics of genus: Leafless saprophytes with thick horizontal, pale roots at the base of short erect rhizomes. Thin, dark, brittle stems bear few or many flowers. These are dull brown with a lighter coloured lip.

Number of species in New Guinea: In New Guinea six species have been found.

Habitat: Plants occur in deep to half shaded sites on the forest floor, growing in deep humus and litter, often with their rhizomes deep in the subsoil. The species are found in mountain forests from 300 to above 1500 m altitude.

Conservation status: not known

Species line drawing: Lecanorchis sp.
drawn by N.H.S. Howcroft from live specimen and spirit material ex Woitape, Central Province
Key to Illustration: A: habit; B: flower, side view; C: dorsal sepal; D: petal; E: lateral sepal; F-G: labellum, H: column and labellum; I: column, anther and stigma; J: column and anther, side view