Orchids in the genus Tropidia are evergreen, terrestrial, sometimes mycotrophic herbs which form small clumps.

[2][3][4][5] The genus Tropidia was first formally described in 1833 by John Lindley and the description was published in Edwards's Botanical Register.

[1][6][7] The name Tropidia is derived from the Ancient Greek word tropidos or tropideion meaning "keel", referring to the boat-shaped labellum of some species in this genus.

[5][4][8] Species in the genus Tropidium grow in deep shade in evergreen monsoon forests and are native to China, Japan, the Indian Subcontinent, Indonesia, Indochina, Philippines, New Guinea, Australia, Latin America (from Mexico to Ecuador), the West Indies, Florida, and some Pacific Islands including the Solomons, Fiji, New Caledonia, the Galápagos and Vanuatu.

[2][3][4][5] The following is a list of species of Tropidia recognised by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families as at October 2018:[1]