| Ghost orchids | |
|---|---|
| |
| Epipogium aphyllum | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Tribe: | Nervilieae |
| Subtribe: | Epipogiinae |
| Genus: | Epipogium J.G.Gmel. ex Borkh. |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Epipogium, commonly known as ghost orchids[2] (Chinese: 虎舌蘭; pinyin: hǔshé lán[3] or 上鬚蘭; shàngxū lán), is a genus of four species of terrestrial leafless orchids in the family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus have a fleshy, underground rhizome and a fleshy, hollow flowering stem with small, pale coloured, drooping, short-lived flowers with narrow sepals and petals. They are native to a region extending from tropical Africa to Europe, temperate and tropical Asia, Australia and some Pacific Islands.
- ^ "Epipogium". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- ^ Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 368. ISBN 1877069124.
- ^ Chen, Xinqi; Gale, Stephen W.; Cribb, Phillip J. "Epipogium". Flora of China. Retrieved 8 November 2018.