SPATHOGLOTTIS-includes about 40 species occurring from India across southeast Asia, China, Malay Archipelago, New Guinea, Australia and the islands of the south-west Pacific Ocean. New Guinea has the largest number of species;Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and the Philippines each have six; Thailand has five; Java three and there are two each in Sumatra and Australia. The name Spathoglottis comes from the Greek spathe– a spathe and glotta– tongue, and refers to the broad lamina of the lip.