Podochilus Blume
Bijdragen tot de Flora van Ned. Indie (1825), 295, t.12.

INTRODUCTION: A genus of about seventy five mostly small, often moss-like epiphytes distributed widely from S.E. Asia including Ceylon to New Guinea. The genus is closely related to Chilopogon Schlechter and Appendicula Blume.

DERIVATION OF GENUS NAME: Greek pous, podos (foot), cheilos (lip). These probably refer to the 2 intorse appendices at the base of the lip.

TYPE SPECIES: Podochilus lucescens Blume

CHARACTERISTICS OF GENUS: Epiphytic herbs with a most unusual vegetative appearance, bearing solitary or racemose, mostly tiny flowers of charming structure. The flowers are mostly white with some purple markings. The plants have no pseudobulbs and the thin stems creep and branch, rooting on to their host as they grow along their entire length with two rows of thin leaves.

SPECIES PHOTO: Podochilus species

HABITAT: Growing mostly on the lower parts of tree trunks, always in very humid surroundings.

CONSERVATION STATUS: not known