Cranichis is a New World genus of primarily terrestrial orchids widely distributed throughout Mexico, the West Indies, Central and South America. A single species extends northward into South Florida.
These orchids have thick, fleshy roots and erect, unbranched stems with a basal rosette of one to several leaves. The inflorescence has tiny white, pink or green thinly textured flowers that are non-resupinate with fine hairs along the margin of the petals. The white labellum is saccate and often conspicuously marked or heavily veined and often has a minutely ciliate margin and a blunt tip. The flowers have a short, fleshly, footless column.

North American Species in this Genus

• Cranichis muscosa