Two species occur in eastern Australia and one is endemic to Lord Howe Island.

Orchids in the genus Plectorrhiza are epiphytic or lithophytic, monopodial herbs with long, thick, tangled roots mostly growing in the air.

The genus Plectorrhiza was first formally described in 1967 by Alick Dockrill and the description was published in Australasian Sarcanthinae.

Plectorrhiza tridentata is the most widespread of the three, growing in eastern Queensland, New South Wales and the far north-eastern corner of Victoria.

Plectorrhiza brevilabris is only found in Queensland and P. erecta only in coastal parts of Lord Howe Island.