Herbs, usually epiphytic, stemless to rarely caulescent. Leaves many-ranked, usually ligulate, margins entire. Inflorescences 5--many-flowered, many-ranked, mostly 2-pinnate to less commonly single spike, flowers laxly to densely arranged; floral bracts broad, conspicuous, mostly obscuring rachis. Flowers bisexual; sepals distinct to connate over 1/2 length, usually symmetric; petals with claws adherent to subconnate petal, forming short tube, blade distinct; stamens usually included, adherent to adnate with petal claws; ovary superior. Capsules cylindric, dehiscent. Seeds with basal, usually tan-brown plumose appendage.
