Pachystoma Blume
in Bijdragen tot de Flora van Nederlandsch Indie 6:T. 3, f.29; 8:P 376(1825).

INTRODUCTION: Only three species are known in this genus related to Ipsea. These are distributed from Africa, India and South-East Asia to New Guinea and one species has been recorded in Australia.

DERIVATION OF GENUS NAME: Carl Blume described this genus in 1825 and coined the name in reference to the thick-ened opening to the labellum from the Greek pachys (thick) and stoma (open-ing).

TYPE SPECIES: Pachystoma pubescens Blume.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GENUS: Deciduous, terrestrial herbs, quite tall, with a slender underground, branching rhizome. The flowers do not open widely.

SPECIES LINE DRAWING: Pachystoma pubescens Blume

HABITAT: Occurring in open grasslands, mostly among imperata whose leaves they resemble deceptively. In these grass-lands they are often subject to grass fires and their rhizo-mes can shrivel and remain dormant under-ground for several years and reappear when conditions are suitable.