Description :

• Terrestrial herbs, with ovoid or globose tubers
• Leaves 2-few, basal or cauline, sometimes flat on ground
• Inflorescence a dense or lax raceme, many- or few-flowered, rarely subcapitate; flowers not resupinate; sepals and petals ± fused at base or in basal portion, to lesser extent also to lip, in various shades of red, white, orange and yellow; bracts membranous or fleshy, often reflexed
• Sepals simple, subequal or laterals broader, spreading or reflexed
• Petals simple, sometimes with fringed margins, similar to petals
• Lip almost always galeate, apex developed as narrow, erect or reflexed 'flap', base with 2 descending spurs or sacs, rarely without
• Gynostemium erect with elongate column-part; anther thecae pendent, parallel and adjacent, anther canals absent or short; pollinia 2, sectile, each with distinct caudicle, viscidia 2, sometimes connate, very rarely 1
• Capsule elongate to ovoid, not twisted
• x = 41 (polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

• Satyrium Sw.
  • Swartz: 214 (1800) name conserved
  • Rolfe: 145 (1912)
  • Phillips: 233 (1951)
  • Schelpe: 76 (1966)
  • Hall: 5 (1982)
  • Stewart et al.: 160 (1982)
  • Linder & Kurzweil: 152 (1999)
• Aviceps Lindl.
  • Lindley: 345 (1838)
  • Rolfe: 176 (1912)
  • Phillips: 234 (1951)
• Satyridium Lindl.
  • Lindley: 345 (1838)
  • Rolfe: 144 (1912)
  • Phillips: 233 (1951)
  • Stewart et al.: 179 (1982)

Distribution & Notes:

• Global : Species ± 88, Africa and Madagascar, extending to India, Myanmar (=Burma) and China
• Southern Africa : Species 37, widespread