Cadetia section Pterocadetia Schltr.,
Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 424.
Rhizome short. Pseudobulbs slender, sharply (rarely more indistinctly) 4-angled to 4-winged. Inflorescences arising from the leaf-axil, their base enveloped by a spathe. Flowers lasting at least several days. The midlobe of the lip sometimes with low keels. Ovary glabrous, 3-angular to V-shaped, rarely 6-ribbed.
Distribution
Moluccas, New Guinea, Vanuatu. About 12 species; in New Guinea c. 11 species.
Habitat
Epiphytes in lowland forest and savannah; only Cadetia arfakensis has been found in montane forest at 1900 m above sea level.
Notes
This section is usually easy to recognise by the sharply 4-angled to 4-winged stems with concave sides; only in Cadetia lucida this is said to be less apparent. The species of this section often have more colourful flowers than those of sections Cadetia and Sarcocadetia, frequently with purplish or yellow markings on the midlobe of the lip.