Grammatophyllum elegans Rchb.f.  1882 belongs to a genus of 13 currently known orchid species. The name is derived from the Greek words 'gramma' (letter) and 'phyllon' (leaf), referring to the dark markings in the flower. This epiphytic genus occurs in dense rainforest from Indo-China, to Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, and the Southwest Pacific islands. These species produce several racemes, arising from the base of the pseudobulb, with many yellow-green to olive-green, waxy flowers with dark purplish-red marks. The pseudobulbs are enveloped by sheaths. G. elegans  is found in the Philippines at elevations of sea level to 300 meters as a giant sized, hot growing epiphyte with large flattened pseudobulbs carrying up to 4, apical, elliptic-oblong, 30 cm long leaves. The plant blooms in the spring, on a 100 cm long, many flowered (with up to 50 flowers), arching inflorescence. The flowers are dark brown, 7 cm width and slightly fragrant.