Nervilia Comm. ex Gaudich.,
in Freyc., Voy. Bot. (1826) 422
Terrestrial plants with subterranean tubers. Shoot 1-leaved. Leaves more or less round or heart-shaped, hairy or glabrous, plicate, persistent, convolute, sometimes spotted, usually absent during the flowering period, thin-textured. Inflorescence a 2- to many-flowered raceme or carrying a single flower, usually produced in the rainy season before the leaves appear. Flowers small to medium-sized, resupinate. Sepals and petals free, similar to each other. Lip without spur, not mobile. Column-foot absent. Pollinia 2, sectile, caudicles absent, stipe absent, viscidium absent.
Distribution
Tropical Africa, Sri Lanka, tropical continental Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Pacific islands, east to Tahiti; about 65 species.
Distribution in the Philippines
Luzon (Mt. Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Pangasinan, Zambales, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas), Polillo, Mindoro, Palawan, Bancalan, Panay, Mindanao (Lanao, Bukidnon, Davao, Cotabato); 4 species.
Habitat
Terrestrial on open slopes, in forests, in grasslands on poor soils, etc., generally below 1000 m.
Notes
Easily recognised by the fan-shaped, kidney-shaped or round plicate leaves, which usually appear after the flowering period. Rarely cultivated.