Tropidia Lindley
in Wallich, Cat. (1831), no. 7386, in Botanical Register sub. t. 1618, 1833

Introduction: The genus is comprised of about twenty two species, distributed from India and Sri Lanka through S.E. Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea to New Caledonia and Fiji. One species is recorded for tropical and subtropical America.

Derivation of genus name: In allusion to the boat-shaped labellum in some of the species. The name taken from the Greek tropideion (keel).

Type species: Tropidia carculigoides Lindley

Characteristics of genus: Terrestrial, sometimes saprophytic herbs with plant habits similar to those in the genus Corymborkis. The terminal or axillary inflorescence can be few to many-flowered. The flowers are small to medium-sized and coloured yellowish or greenish-white.

Number of species in New Guinea: Eight species of this genus are found in New Guinea.

Habitat: Found from near sea level to around 1200 m in forest undergrowth in open to dense shade.

Conservation status: not threatened

Species shown here: Tropidia disticha Schlechter
drawn by Emmanuel Saya from live material ex Lae area, Morobe Province.