Ascochilus Ridl.,
J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 32 (1896) 374
Small monopodial epiphytes. Stem very short. Leaves few, sheathing at the base, spreading in one plane, glabrous, deciduous, duplicate. Inflorescence lateral, minutely prickly-hairy, a very dense several-flowered raceme, with the flowers appearing in succession or in successive clusters. Flowers small, ephemeral, not resupinate, usually yellow or orange with a white lip. Sepals free. Petals free, usually quite different in shape from the sepals. Lip spurred, hinged to the column, the spur very fleshy, continuing the line of the column-foot, with a very narrow internal channel. Column-foot long. Pollinia 2, cleft, solid, caudicles absent, stipe present, viscidium present.
Distribution
Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Philippines; about 4 species.
Distribution in the Philippines
Luzon (Cagayan, Quezon, Rizal, Sorsogon), Mindoro, Sibuyan, Panay, Negros, Leyte, Samar, Mindanao (Surigao, Agusan, Davao), Basilan; 2 or 3 species.
Habitat
Epiphytes in lowland forest.
Notes
A small-flowered relative of Grosourdya and Pteroceras, characterised by the fleshy spur with a very narrow internal channel. Rarely cultivated.