Description: Epiphytic or epilithic herbs, sympodial; roots creeping over the surface of the substrate, fibrous. Stems differentiated into rhizome and pseudobulb; pseudobulb of several internodes.
Leaves scattered along the pseudobulb or tufted at its apex, 1 to several per shoot, distichous, conduplicate, sessile.
Inflorescence racemose, several–many-flowered, terminal; flowers resupinate [or not]. Dorsal sepal free, similar to lateral sepals. Lateral sepals free. Lateral petals free, about as long as, or slightly shorter than dorsal sepal. Labellum free, attached at base of column; lamina unlobed, bearing 1 or 2 calli or longitudinal keels. Column lacking free filament and style; column wings fused to column [or absent], expansive in upper half, narrow. Column foot absent. Anther incumbent, cap-like. Pollinia 4, waxy. Stigma entire. Rostellum not prominent, ventral.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 20 spp., Australia to Malesia. Aust.: 8 spp., endemic), Qld, N.S.W.
Text by P. H. Weston
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Pseudobulbs broad-ovoid to globose, 8–12 mm long, 12–16 mm wide; labellum decurved through less than 90° | Cestichis coelogynoides |
| Pseudobulbs ovoid to compressed-ovoid, 20–40 mm long, 15–30 mm wide; labellum deflexed through c. 180° | 2 |
| 2 | Sepals spreading, almost in the same plane, obtuse; leaves usually 1 (sometimes 2) per shoot | Cestichis swenssonii |
| Sepals reflexed, acute; leaves usually 2 or 3 (sometimes 1 or 4) per shoot
Back to 1 | Cestichis reflexa |
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