Chiloschista
Chiloschista, commonly known as starfish orchids and abbreviated Chsch., is a genus of usually leafless, epiphytic or lithophytic orchids found in India, Southeast Asia and Australia.
Description
Orchids in the genus Chiloschista are epiphytic or lithophytic, usually leafless monopodial herbs with flat, green, photosynthetic roots radiating from a short, central rhizome. The flowers are arranged on long, thin flowering stems, open sporadically in groups and only last for a few hours to one or two days. They are small and resupinate, with the sepals and petals more or less similar in size and shape to each other but different from the labellum which has three lobes. The side lobes of the labellum are erect and larger than the middle lobe which is slipper-shaped.Taxonomy and naming
The genus Chiloschista was first described in 1832 by John Lindley in Edwards's Botanical Register. The name Chiloschista is derived from the Ancient Greek words meaning "lip" or "rim" and meaning "split" or "divided".About 30 species of Chiloschista are accepted by Plants of the World Online as at October 2025:Chiloschista bhutanensis Ghalley & DalströmChiloschista breviseta Chanokkhun, Watthana & Schuit.Chiloschista confusa M.J.Matthew, J.Matthew, P.M.Salim & Szlach.Chiloschista densiflora Gyeltshen, C.Gyeltshen & DalströmChiloschista eckhardii Vuong, Aver., V.C.Nguyen, Wojtas & Q.T.TruongChiloschista extinctoriformis Seidenf.Chiloschista exuperei GarayChiloschista fasciata Seidenf. & OrmerodChiloschista gelephuensis C.Gyeltshen & DalströmChiloschista glabrisepala Vuong, Aver. & V.S.DangChiloschista glandulosa Blatt. & McCannChiloschista guangdongensis Z.H.TsiChiloschista himalaica Tobgay, C.Gyeltshen & DalströmChiloschista javanica Schltr.Chiloschista lindstroemii Dalström & KolanChiloschista loheri Schltr.Chiloschista lunifera J.J.Sm.Chiloschista parishii Seidenf.Chiloschista phyllorhiza Schltr. – white starfish orchid, Chiloschista pulchella Aver. & K.S.NguyenChiloschista quangdangii Vuong & Aver.Chiloschista ramifera Seidenf.Chiloschista rodriguezii Cavestro & OrmerodChiloschista segawae Masam. & Fukuy.Chiloschista shanica Wojtas, C.Bandara & KumarChiloschista sweelimii HolttumChiloschista taeniophyllum Schltr.Chiloschista treubii Schltr.Chiloschista trudelii Seidenf.Chiloschista usneoides Lindl.Chiloschista viridiflava Seidenf.Chiloschista yunnanensis Schltr.