Microtis R.Br.,
Prodr. Fl. Novae Holland. Ins. Van-Diemen (1810) 320
Sympodial terrestrial plants with a subterranean tuber. Stem very short, one-leaved. Leaf sheathing at the base, glabrous, persistent, terete, herbaceous. Inflorescence terminal, a many-flowered raceme. Flowers very small, resupinate, greenish. Sepals free. Petals free, narrower than the sepals. Lip without spur, not mobile, entire, at the base with two calli. Column-foot absent. Pollinia 4, granular, caudicles absent, stipe (hamulus) very short, viscidium present.
Distribution
China, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia (not in New Guinea), the Philippines, Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand; about 15 species.
Distribution in the Philippines
Luzon (Mt. Province, Benguet); 1 species [Microtis unifolia (G.Forst.) Rchb.f.].
Habitat
Terrestrial in montane grassland.
Notes
Inconspicuous but highly characteristic terrestrial plants with only a single, terete leaf and dense racemes of many minute greenish flowers. This genus has its centre of diversity in Australia.