ERYTHRODES Blume 
Terrestrial herbs. Roots arising from base of stem or from intamodes 
of rhizome, Stams aract or ascending, leafy. Leaves short-petiolate, ovate 
or lanceolate, usually reticulata-veined. Inflorescence a loosely or densely 
many-flOY/ered spike. Flowers usually small, subsassile. Bracts small. Sepals 
free, erect or spreading, nearly equal. Petals adnata to dorsal sepal to form 
a galea. Lip slightly adnata to column, entire or lobed, sometimes with a 
saccate spur; spur usually with four or more calluses basally within. Column 
short or very short, wingless. Pollinia sectile or granular. Capsule ellipsoid 
or ovoid, erect. 
Erythrodes : from the Creek for "appearing red", in reference to the flower- 
colour of some species. 
A genus of about 100 species of tropical and subtropical regions of both 
hemispheres. 
1. Terminal lobe of lip not transverse, not broader 
than long, often somewhat acute or mucronate 
or trilobulate 
2. Plants up to about 10 cm. tall. Stem leafy 
nearly to raceme ... 3. Erythrode s trinitatis 
2A. Plants 30-60 om. tall (sometimes much taller;. 
Stems above long-leafless . 2. Erythrodes plantagine a 
1A. Terminal lobe of lip transverse, broader than 
long, lunate . 1 . Erythrodes hirtella 
1. Epytl-irgdeg hirtella (Sw. j Fawcett at Rondle FI. Jam. 1 (1910; 29, t.3, figs. 16-19. 
Satyrium hirtellum Swartz Prodr. (1788; 118. 
Orchis hirtella (Sw.; Swartz Fl. 3 (1806; 1394. 
Habenaria hirtella (Sw.) Sprengel Syst. Veg. 3 (1826) 690. 
Physurus hirtellus (Sw.) Lindley Gen. and Sp. Orch. PI. (1840; 501. 
Plants erect, 11-30 cm, tall (rarely taller;. Stem basally succulent, 
glabrous, above slender, sparsely pilose, below rather densely 5-8-leaved, 
