Periglossum

Perennial herbs, with tuberous rootstock, producing single, erect stems. Leaves sessile, slender. Flowers few to many, in 2-4 globose umbels, arranged racemosely along upper part of stem. Sepals often with scales within base. Corolla 5-lobed nearly to base. Corona shortly connate at base, 5-lobed, sometimes almost as long as corolla lobes; lobes erect, spatulate-oblong or sagittate, or oblong-linear, with a transverse ridge or flap and often 2 keels on inner face, sometimes reflexed at apex, sometimes with process at base. Staminal column arising from base of corolla. Anthers 2-locular, with terminal, membranous appendages which are inflexed on style head. Pollinia pendulous, curved, sausage-shaped, attached to corpuscle by doubly curved caudicles twice as long as pollinia. Follicles narrowly fusiform, tapering to a beak. Seeds concave on one side, convex on other, with short protuberances and a pleated rim round concave surface.