Peristylis Blume
in Bijdragen tot de Flora van Nederlandsch Indie; 1825, 404, t. 30

INTRODUCTION: A genus of some eighty species, some of which are often included in Habenaria or Platanthera. The genus is distributed in the tropical and sub-tropical parts of Asia, New Guinea, Australia and some Pacific Islands.

DERIVATION OF GENUS NAME: Greek peri (near, around), stylos(column). style. In reference to the galea a hood or helmet-like structure formed by the fusion of dorsal sepals and petals.

TYPE SPECIES: Peristylis grandis Blume.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GENUS: Deciduous terrestrials with fleshy, subter-ranean tubers closely related to Habenaria. All species are multi-flowered with mostly dull coloured, small flowers held close to the flower stem which are short-lived.

NUMBER OF SPECIES IN NEW GUINEA: fifteen to seventeen species are recognized for New Guinea

HABITAT: Habitats range from open grass-lands to rain forests and their growth cycle is correlated to the tropical wet season.

CONSERVATION STATUS: not known

SPECIES SHOWN HERE: Peristylis goodyeroides (D. Don) Lindley
drawn by N.H.S. Howcroft from live specimen and spirit material ex Lapequ, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province.

KEY TO ILLUSTRATION: A: habit; B: flower, side view; C: flower, front view; D: partly dissected flower showing column organs