FZ.29. Malaxis Sol. ex Sw.

Malaxis and Liparis are dwarf, mostly terrestrial orchids with creeping rhizomes or fusiform tuberous roots, broad plicate (pleated) leaves and terminal inflorescences, flowering with the leaves. The flowers are small and the lip (the unpaired petal) is without a spur. Malaxis differs from Liparis in having a shorter column without basal auricles of the lip on either side of the column.

Worldwide: C. 300, cosmopolitan.

Malawi: 3 taxa.