This genus of orchids includes species with an impressive appearance, without leaves at least during a period of their growth and development, the plants looking like some root masses, loaded with floral stems during the flowering period, a fact that justifies the popular name of "ghost orchids" ".

From a systematic point of view, the genus Chiloschista described by the renowned English botanist and orchidologist John Lindley in 1832, belongs to the tribe Vandeae, subtribe Sarcanthinae, and derives its name from the ancient Greek, where "cheilos" means labelum, and "schistos" means divided, indicating that the species of the genus are distinguished by the presence of a divided lablum. The genus Chiloschista is closely related to the genus Sarcochilus, but differs from it in that Chiloschista species show periodic loss of leaves, and differences in the anatomy of the labellum.

In reality, some species belonging to this genus produce leaves, but they are lost in the early stages of development.

As a general aspect, the plants are presented in the form of compact, massive root masses, which emerge from a compact central axis, represented by the stem. When the leaves are present, they emerge from this central axis, having dimensions of 2.5 - 5 cm long and 1 cm wide, but these are lost by the plants before the flowering season. The inflorescences are usually grouped on hanging stems that can present few to many small flowers, with a captivating appearance, and the color varies from creamy white to greenish and to dark reddish brown. Currently, 19 species belonging to the genus Chiloschista are known, the best known in the horticultural trade being Chiloschista lunifera, C. usneoides, C. viridiflava, C. trudelii, C. exuperei, C parishii.

The geographic distribution of the genus covers Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and adjacent areas in Southeast Asia. The culture requirements for the species of this genus imply special attention to the minimum temperature values, which must not fall below 15 - 18 ℃ in any situation, although the species will prefer high temperatures, up to or above 30 ℃, resembling from this point of view with the species of the genera Vanda, with which they are related, or with the species of Cattleya. Being species that love high humidity values, over 70%, for which frequent irrigation is recommended, allowing the roots to grow before a new water administration, it is understood that the ventilation will have to be intense, in order not to favor the desolation of fungal and bacterial diseases. It is preferable that the irrigation be done in the first part of the day, to avoid water stagnation during the night, when the temperatures drop.

The light radiation values ​​will be in the upper register, of 15,000 - 35,000 lux, similar to the species of vanda, cattleya and oncidium, but avoiding direct light (60 - 70% shading), as this can cause burns at the level of the roots.

For fertilization, which will be administered frequently, but diluted, at 10-25% compared to the concentrations recommended by the manufacturers, a balanced fertilizer with a 1-1-1 formula will be preferred. sense being indicated not to divide the plants grown on plastic, ceramic, wood, bark or cork plates. Plants grown for vegetative reproduction will not be mounted, but simply positioned on a plastic support. It is NOT recommended to place them on a substrate of sphagnum moss, as stagnation of moisture in the root zone easily leads to the loss of plants through the installation of fungal and bacterial diseases.

Due to the particularity of the species of this genus, which make up for the lack of leaves by carrying out photosynthesis at the level of the root tissue, it is necessary that the roots always remain bare, uncovered, and have access to light. This aspect indicates the impossibility of growing these species in pots. It will be preferable to position them on smooth substrates, more suitable than rough surfaces, which can cause damage to the velamen layer. The repositioning or relocation of specimens is recommended only during the initiation of new root growths, which will allow the attachment of new support.

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