[3] The genus is primarily native to the Greater Antilles, with a few species extending into Florida, the Lesser Antilles, Mexico, Central America and northern South America (from Colombia to French Guiana).

[1] The plants are small, usually epiphytic, with small or absent pseudobulbs completely covered by leaves, which are triangular or circular in cross section and overlap each other at base to resemble a fan.

[1] The inflorescences arise between the leaf base and bear colorful, showy flowers.

The labella are large, ornamented by variously shaped calli.

[4][5][6] Hybrids of Tolumnia with orchids in other genera are placed in the following nothogenera:[7] This Cymbidieae-related article is a stub.