Trichoglottis Blume
in Bijdragen tot de Flora van Nederlandsch Indie 6: t. 3, f. 8,8:359 (1825)

INTRODUCTION: The sixty species in the genus are distributed from India, Malaysia, the Philippines to New Guinea and one species occurring in Australia.

DERIVATION OF GENUS NAME: The generic name refers to the hairy throat of the lip of the type species and is derived from the Greek trichos (hair) and glottis (tongue).

TYPE SPECIES: Trichoglottis retusa Blume

CHARACTERISTICS OF GENUS: Large, coarse epiphytes with straggly or drooping stems with thick, cord-like roots and droop-ing glossy green leaves. The abbreviated lateral inflorescence carries a small number of flowers. The petals are generally broader than the sepals; the fleshy, three-lobed labellum is usually hairy on the upper surface.

SPECIES SHOWN HERE: Trichoglottis litoralis drawn by Neville H.S. Howcroft

PHOTO(S):

Trichoglottis papuana

HABITAT: The species in this genus are inhabitants of the lowland rain forests.

CONSERVATION STATUS: not threatened