The four species of Chroniochilus are collectively distributed from southern Thailand through Malaysia to Indonesia.
These species are epiphytes from 0 to 1000 m. Chroniochilus minimus (Blume) J.J.Sm. and C. virescens (Ridl.) Holttum are recorded from forests on ultramafic substrates between 700 and 1000 m in Borneo, Chroniochilus minimus grows on tea bushes between 800 and 1000 m in Java. Chroniochilus thrixspermoides (Schltr.) Garay has been recorded from a coffee plantation at 300 m in Sumatra. Chroniochilus virescens grows on small trees in grasslands at 100 m in Thailand.
Epiphytic herbs. Stems erect to pendent. Leaves few, flat, unequally bilobed. Inflorescence simple, few-flowered; rachis fleshy or sometimes flattened. Flowers resupinate. Sepals and petals free, spreading. Labellum motile, sessile, sagittate, conical and solid in front, with large auriculate side lobes; spur absent. Column with a distinct foot to which the labellum is elastically attached; pollinia two, entire, stipe linear-oblong, viscidium oval, at least half as long as the stipe; rostellar projection prominent.
No uses have been reported for the genus; it is rare in cultivation.
