INTRODUCTION: A genus of about twenty species. Some of the species were formerly included in the genus Cystopus Blume. Their distribution ranges from Indonesia to New Guinea.
DERIVATION OF GENUS NAME: Greek pristes (saw), glotta (tongue). Refers to the crenate margin of the lip.
TYPE SPECIES: Pristiglottis aneytymensis (Schltr.) Cretz & J.J. Smith
Basionym: Cystopus aneytyumensis Schltr.
CHARACTERISTICS OF GENUS: Terrestrial herbs, some of them with interesting mottled or variegated foliage, allying them to the group of 'Jewel Orchids'.
SPECIES SHOWN HERE: Pristoglottis coerulescens (Schlechter) Cretz. et J.J. Smith
drawn by N.H.S. Howcroft from live specimen ex Mt. Kaindi, Wau, Morobe Province
KEY TO ILLUSTRATION: A: habit; B: flower, side view; C: column and labellum; D: labellum; E: petals, dorsal sepal and lateral sepal; F: lateral sepal
CONSERVATION STATUS: not known
Pristoglottis Cretz. & J.J. Smith