They are widespread in Asia, Australia and some Pacific islands.Orchids in the genus Microtis are terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herbs with a few inconspicuous, fine roots and an egg-shaped to almost spherical tuber.

The broad dorsal sepal is sharp-pointed, dished on the lower side and forms a horizontal hood over the column.

[2][3][5][6][8] The genus Microtis was first formally described by Robert Brown in 1810 and the description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae.

[10] The name Microtis is derived from the ancient Greek words mikros (μικρός) meaning "small" and ous, genitive ōtos (οὖς, genitive ὠτός) meaning "ear",[11] referring to the small, ear-like appendages on the column.

[3] Onion orchids are widespread in temperate areas of Australia and in sub-tropical Queensland, occurring in all states but not the Northern Territory.

These two species are also found in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, southern Japan, the Ryukyu Islands and possibly on the Chinese mainland.

The small size of the flowers and their tendency to change when dried as herbarium species led to further confusion.