What is "zygostates"

Zygostates is a genus of orchids widespread across much of South America from Guyana to Argentina.

The word is from the Greek ζυγοστάτης (zygostates, weigher, balance) and refers to the projections from the base of the column which resemble a balance.

The zygostates ( Greek: ζυγοστάτης, "one who weighs with a balance"; plural: ζυγοστάται, zygostatai) was a public weigher of the coinage of the Byzantine Empire. According to the Lex Julia, he was a municipal official whose function was to verify the quality of the gold solidus coins.