Phinaea are small terrestrial herbs with scaly rhizomes. The genus was recently taxonomically redefined and reduced to 2 or 3 species, with the remaining species included in the re-established genus Amalophyllon. The two core species of Phinaea are P. albolineata (with characteristic silvery veins) and P. multiflora. In habit and flower characters, Phinaea and Amalophyllon are very similar. Both Phinaea species are in wide cultivation.