Sarcochilus

Vandeae subtribe Aeridinae

Miniature monopodial epiphytes and lithophytes. Stems short, rooting at the base. Leaves alternate, distichous. Inflorescences axillary scapose few-flowered racemes. Flowers spreading or cupped, often fragrant. Sepals and petals free, spreading. Lip three-lobed, the midlobe minute, fleshy, saccate, flexibly articulated to the foot, with one or more calli inside the sac, the spur usually solid. Column short, stout, with a long foot; pollinia 4, in two tightly appressed pairs, on a narrow stipe and minute viscidium.

From the Greek sarx, meaning flesh, and cheilos, meaning lip, referring to the fleshy texture of the lips.

A genus of 14 species found from Australia to New Caledonia. Once broadly defined, several genera have been removed from a more narrowly defined Sarcochilus including Chiloschista, Grosourdya, and Pteroceras. The generic placement of several species remai

Dockrill, A. W. 1983. Weinthal’s Sarcanth. Orchadian 7(7):158-159.

Dockrill, A. W. 1996. A review of the Sarcochilus ceciliae F. Muell. complex. Austral. Orchid Rev. 61(2):4-6.

Harrison, M. 2000. Sarcochilus spathulatus R. Rogers. Orchadian 13(5):196-205.

Holttum, R. E. 1960. The genera Sarcochilus R. Br. and Pteroceras Hassk. (Orchidaceae) with notes on other genera which have been included in Sarcochilus. Kew Bull. 14:263-276.

Walsh, G. 1998. Sarcochilus falcatus, the orange blossom orchid. Orchadian 12(9):388-399.

Webb, A. and M. Webb 1993. Diminutive Beauties, some epiphytic Sarcs. Australian Orchid Rev. 58(6):4-13.