Stereosandra Blume
in Museum botanicum Luguno-Batavorum, Vol. 2; 1856; p. 176

INTRODUCTION: A monotypic genus wide spread from Eastern Asia, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Bornea and New Guinea to the Solomon Islands. The genus is saphrophytic.

DERIVATION OF GENUS NAME: The generic name was coined from the Greek stereos (solid, firm) and andros (stamen) in probable allusion to the firm texture of the anthers.

TYPE SPECIES: Stereosandra javanica Blume

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GENUS: This very small orchid has a tuberous rhizome, not more than 5 cm tall at most, an erect and fleshy but quite thin stem, yellowish-white with purple streaks along its length, up to 35 cm long. The inflorescence carries up to 20 flowers, white with several prominent longitudinal ribs forming a loose tube basally.

HABITAT: The Papua New Guinea variety of the species, S. javanica var. papuana J.J. Smith, prefers shady spots in primary forests which have a deep humus layer at an altitude of 250 to 1000 m.

SPECIES SHOWN HERE: Stereosandra javanica Blume
redrawn by N.H.S. Howcroft from 'Exkursionflora von Java'
KEY TO ILLUSTRATION: A: habit; B: flower, side view; C: flower, top view; D: column and labellum; E: labellum; F: column and anther; G: column and labellum