Plants in this genus are clump-forming epiphytes or lithophytes with pseudobulbs, each with a single large leaf and a large number of small, whitish flowers arranged in two ranks along a thin, wiry flowering stem that emerges from the top of the pseudobulb.

Orchids in the genus Pholidota are sympodial epiphytic, lithophytic or, rarely, terrestrial herbs with pseudobulbs, each with one or two large, stalked leathery leaves.

The flowers are white, cream-coloured, yellowish or pinkish with a concave dorsal sepal and smaller petals.

[1][6][7] The name Pholidota is derived from the Ancient Greek word pholidotos meaning "clad in scales",[8] referring to the large bracts at the base of the flower in some species.

[3] The following is a list of Pholidota species accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families as at January 2019:[1]