Oberonia Lindl.,
Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. (1830) 15
Sympodial epiphytes, rhizome absent or sometimes well-developed and elongated. Stem very short to elongated, few- to many-leaved. Leaves distichous, sheathing at the base, glabrous, laterally flattened, deciduous or not, duplicate, leathery. Inflorescence terminal, a many-flowered raceme, with the flowers from the apical part of the inflorescence opening first. Flowers small to minute, resupinate or not, often arranged in whorls, green, brown, orange(-red), yellow, or whitish. Sepals free. Petals free, distinctly different from the sepals. Lip without spur, not mobile. Column very short. Column-foot absent. Pollinia 4, solid, caudicles absent, stipe absent, viscidium absent.
Distribution
Tropics of Africa (only 1 species) and Asia, east to the Tuamotu Archipelago; about 300 species.
Distribution in the Philippines
Luzon (Ilocos Norte, La Union, Kalinga-Apayao, Mt. Province, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon, Tayabas, Camarines, Albay, Sorsogon), Polillo, Biliran, Mindoro, Busuanga, Culion, Palawan, Guimaras, Negros, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, Mindanao (Zamboanga, Lanao, Bukidnon, Surigao, Agusan, Davao, Cotabato), Basilan; 24 species.
Habitat
Epiphyte in lowland and montane forest.
Notes
A highly characteristic genus, easily recognised by the laterally flattened leaves and the terminal rat tail-like inflorescences with minute flowers. The only genera with which it may be confused are Hippeophyllum and Octarrhena. Oberonia is occasionally cultivated by those who prefer their flowers small.