Orchids in the genus
Nervilia are terrestrial,
perennial,
deciduous,
sympodial herbs with an oval to almost spherical
tuber and sometimes a few short roots. One or two flowers are borne on an erect, fleshy, leafless flowering stem. When flowering the plants lack leaves, but a single erect or ground-hugging leaf develops after the flower has fully opened. The leaves are usually wrinkled or crumpled with distinct, fan-like veins, giving rise to the genus name. The flowers are often short-lived, lasting for only a few days. The
sepals and
petals are similar, but the
labellum is prominent and often composed of three lobes. The genus is poorly understood, mainly because the flower and leaf are present at different times, so that
herbarium specimens are often incomplete. ==Taxonomy and naming==