Orchids in the genus Pachystoma are deciduous, terrestrial herbs with a branching underground rhizome and one or two linear, papery, pleated or veiny leaves. A thin, wiry flowering stem bears smallish, pink drooping flowers that are hairy on the outside. The sepals and petals are similar in size and shape, the lateral sepals having a hump at their base. The labellum has three lobes, the middle lobe projecting forwards and the side lobes unusually large.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and naming
The genus Pachystoma was first formally described in 1825 by Carl Ludwig Blume and the description was published in Bijdragen tot de Flora van Nederlandsch Indie.[5][6] The name Pachystoma is derived from the Ancient Greek words pachys meaning "thick"[7]: 853 and stoma meaning "mouth",[7]: 754 apparently referring to a thickened callus on the labellum.[4]
^ abc"Pachystoma". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
^ abJones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. pp. 360–361. ISBN1877069124.
^ abChen, Xinqi; Wood, Jeffrey J. "Pachystoma". Flora of China. Retrieved 28 October 2018.