Description :

• Terrestrial or rarely epiphytic herbs, usually with heteroblastic pseudobulbs (with only 1 internode elongated)
• Leaves 1-3, at apex of pseudobulb, petiolate, lamina coriaceous, conduplicate, often variegated; petiole articulation usually some distance above base and sometimes above middle, articulation consisting of a number of blunt or acute teeth
• Inflorescence lateral, raceme or panicle, often overtopping leaves; flowers small to medium-sized, in our species greenish yellow, bright yellow or green, lip paler and often with red markings; bracts not conspicuous
• Sepals and petals rather similar, or petals shorter and broader than sepals
• Lip decurved, spurred, normally 4-lobed; disc with calli or keels
• Gynostemium sometimes with short column-foot; anther operculate, often with horn-like apex; pollinia 2, with short or rudimentary stipe attached to large viscidium; stigma in cavity below rostellum
• x = 29 (1 report)

Nomenclature:

• Oeceoclades Lindl.
  • Lindley: t. 1522 (1832)
  • Stewart et al.: 251 (1982)
  • Linder & Kurzweil: 395 (1999)
• Eulophidium Pfitz.
  • Pfitzer: 87 (1887)
  • Schelpe: 30 (1966)

Distribution & Notes:

• Global : Species 31, pantropical
• Southern Africa : Species 3 in KwaZulu-Natal