Plocoglottis Blume,
Bijdr. (1825) 380
Sympodial terrestrial plants with short to very short rhizomes. Pseudobulbs present or not, consisting of one to several internodes, 1- or few-leaved, when absent stem elongated, few- to many-leaved. Leaves at the base sheathing or not, glabrous, plicate, deciduous or not, convolute, green, sometimes purple, or with silvery green longitudinal bands, or with pale yellow spots, thin-textured. Inflorescence lateral from the base of the plant, a many-flowered raceme, with the flowers opening in succession. Flowers medium-sized, resupinate. Sepals free. Petals free, about as long as the sepals, but usually somewhat narrower. Lip without spur, elastically hinged to the column, sensitive (see Notes below). Column-foot very short or absent. Pollinia 4, solid, caudicles present, stipe absent, viscidium absent.
Distribution
Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, West Pacific; about 40 species.
Distribution in the Philippines
Babuyanes, Luzon (Rizal, Laguna, Quezon, Tayabas, Camarines, Sorsogon), Polillo, Biliran, Mindoro, Sibuyan, Palawan, Panay, Negros, Cebu, Leyte, Samar, Camiguin, Dinagat, Mindanao (Zamboanga, Surigao, Agusan, Davao, Cotabato, Zamboanga); 7 species.
Habitat
Terrestrial in lowland and montane forest, usually in shady locations.
Notes
A highly distinctive and peculiar genus, easily recognised by the relatively small sensitive lip, which suddenly snaps upward against the column when touched, never to resume its original position unless forced to do so. Not particularly attractive, and rarely seen in collections, but well worth cultivating for its curiosity value.