Saprophytic plants with fleshy tuberous or coralloid rhizome. Stem leafless, with several sheaths, brownish, without chlorophyll. Inflorescence terminal, few-to many-flowered. Flowers somewhat fleshy, pale brownish. Sepal and petals united into a ventricose tube with 5-lobed apex. Labellum short, entire, spurless, base adnate to column. Column elongate, slender, occasionally with short foot, narrowly winged; anther terminal, incumbent; pollinia 2, sectile, without caudicles or viscid gland; stigma entire, at base of column.

About 20 species in eastern Asia, Australia, New Zealand. In Himalaya Mts. westwards to Pakistan at altitudes between 2000 and 2500 m. 1 species occurs in our area.

Lower Taxon

• Gastrodia orobanchoides (Falc.) Benth.

Related Synonym(s):

• Gamoplexis orobanchoides Falc. = Gastrodia orobanchoides (Falc.) Benth.