Cremastra is a small genus of terrestrial orchids in the family Orchidaceae, order Asparagales, first described by John Lindley in 1833 (Genera and Species of Orchidaceous Plants, p. 172). It sits within the subtribe Calypsoinae per current GBIF classification. The genus is native to East and Southeast Asia, with species recorded from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, the Himalayas, and the Russian Far East.
Sources place the number of currently recognized species at around four, though taxonomic databases (GBIF) list up to 11 names under the genus once synonyms and infraspecific taxa are counted — a reminder that species counts for this genus vary by source and treatment. The best-known and most widely documented member is Cremastra appendiculata, a deciduous terrestrial orchid with a corm-like pseudobulb, valued in parts of its native range for traditional uses.
Distribution
Native to China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, the Himalayas, and the Russian Far East.
Taxonomy Notes
Described by John Lindley in 1833 (Genera and Species of Orchidaceous Plants, p. 172); placed in family Orchidaceae, order Asparagales, subtribe Calypsoinae. Wikipedia cites roughly 4 currently recognized species (as of 2014), while the GBIF backbone lists 11 descendant names under the genus, reflecting synonyms and infraspecific taxa rather than distinct species.
