Orchids in this genus have fleshy, upright stems and small to medium-sized resupinate flowers with narrow sepals and petals.

The sepals and petals are fused to form a bell-shaped or irregular tube with the tips free.

The petals are usually much smaller than the sepals and the labellum has three lobes and is fully enclosed in the tube.

[2][3][4][5][6][7] The genus Gastrodia was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown and the description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.

[8] The following is a list of species of Gastrodia recognised by Plants of the World Online as of September 2021:[1]