Renanthera Lour.,
Fl. Cochinch. 2 (1790) 521
Monopodial epiphytes. Stem usually much elongated. Leaves many, distichous, sheathing at the base, glabrous, deciduous, duplicate, leathery. Inflorescence lateral, a many-flowered panicle. Flowers small to medium-sized, resupinate or not, bright (orange-)red or yellow with red markings. Sepals free, the lateral sepals often much longer and broader than the medium sepal. Petals free, similar to the dorsal sepal. Lip sac-shaped, not mobile, inside without callosities, much shorter than the sepals, with a small, usually recurved mid-lobe. Column short. Column-foot absent. Pollinia 4, about equal or slightly unequal in size, solid, caudicles absent, stipe present, viscidium present.
Distribution
Northeast India, Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands; about 15 species.
Distribution in the Philippines
Luzon (Mt. Province, Cagayan, Zambales, Bataan, Rizal, Quezon, Tayabas, Camarines, Sorsogon), Palawan, Leyte, Samar, Bucas Grande, Dinagat, Mindanao (Zamboanga, Surigao, Agusan); 5 species.
Habitat
Epiphytes in lowland and hill forest.
Notes
Frequently cultivated for the graceful branching inflorescences with brightly coloured flowers, which are either red or yellow with red markings. The lateral sepals are usually much broader than the dorsal sepal, which gives the flower a characteristic appearance. Most species appear to be rare in the wild, probably because of a long history of indiscriminate collecting.