Orchids in the genus Crepidium are evergreen, sympodial, mostly terrestrial plants with fleshy stems lying on the ground although a few species are epiphytes.

The flowers are green, yellow, red, brown or purple and have spreading sepals and petals.

[3][4][5][6] The genus Crepidium was first raised and formally described in 1825 by Carl Ludwig Blume and the description was published in his book Bijdragen tot de flora van Nederlandsch Indië.

[2][7] The name Crepidium is derived from the Latin word crepida meaning "boot", "sandal", "shoe" or "base",[8] possibly referring to the shape of the labellum.

Some authors previously included species in this genus in Malaxis but Crepidium have stems lying above ground, broad leaves and an undivided labellum with ear-like lobes.