Spathoglottis is a genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of orchids (family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 Orchidaceae). This genus is allied to genera Acanthephippium

Acanthephippium

Acanthephippium is a genus of orchid with twelve species . The name of this genus is derived from the Greek words acanthos and ephippion , referring to the saddle-like labellum of the plants....

, Bletia

Bletia

Bletia is a genus of about 30 species of orchids , almost of all of which are terrestrial, some are occasionally lithophytic or epiphytic. It is named after Spanish botanist and pharmacist Don Luis Blet...

, Calanthe

Calanthe

Calanthe – commonly abbreviated Cal. in horticulture – is a widespread genus of terrestrial orchids with some 170 species.The genus is divided into 2 groups – deciduous species and evergreen ones...

, and Phaius

Phaius

Phaius is a genus of large, mostly terrestrial orchids . The genus has about 20 species. These species are found in tropical Asia, into China, Japan, Australia, and west to Africa and Madagascar...

. This genus is abbreviated Spa in trade journals. The genus Paxtonia Lindl.

John Lindley

John Lindley FRS was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.-Early years:Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley was a nurseryman and pomologist and ran a commercial nursery garden...

is generally included here.

There are about 45 species of Spathoglottis in diverse habitats in India, Philippines, SE Asia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Borneo, and Cape York Peninsula

Cape York Peninsula

Cape York Peninsula is a large remote peninsula located in Far North Queensland at the tip of the state of Queensland, Australia, the largest unspoilt wilderness in northern Australia and one of the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth...

 in Australia.

Description

There are both insect-pollinated and self-pollinating species in the genus. They are evergreen plants with crowded pseudobulbs just below the surface of the ground. The 3-lobed labellum

Labellum

Labellum is the Latin diminutive of labium, meaning lip. These are anatomical terms used descriptively in biology, for example in Entomology and botany.-Botany:...

projects forward with an extended midlobe which allows insects to land. Both sepals and petals are broad and the sepals are hairy on the outside. The inflorescence arises among sheaths from a recently matured pseudobulb.

Cultivation

They are easy to cultivate and sought after for their large colourful flowers, and are common in tropical gardens. They need sun for part of the day, well-drained loamy soil and regular water.