They are native to every continent except Antarctica, growing in both tropical and subtropical zones.

The distinguishing feature of the genus is the presence of two club-shaped projections on the stigma.

[3][5][6] The genus Habenaria was first formally described in 1805 by Carl Ludwig Willdenow and the description was published in Species Plantarum.

[1][7] The generic name is derived from the Latin word habena meaning "thong", "strap" or "rein".

[8] Rein orchids are distributed in tropical and subtropical regions and with centres of diversity in Africa and Brazil.