Genus Rhinerrhizopsis

Rhinerrhizopsis Ormerod,
Oasis Suppl. 1 (2001) 3

Monopodial epiphytic plants. Stem short. Leaves few, sheathing at the base, glabrous, dorso-ventrally flattened, articulate, duplicate, leathery. Inflorescence lateral, a many-flowered raceme. Flowers medium-sized, ephemeral, resupinate, yellowish with orange-brown spots. Sepals free. Petals free, similar to the sepals, but smaller. Lip saccate, mobile. Column-foot present, about as long as the column proper. Pollinia 4, solid-waxy, caudicles absent, stipe present, viscidium present. Flowers ephemeral.

Distribution
New Guinea, Solomon Islands. One species [Rhinerrhizopsis moorei (Rchb.f.) Ormerod]

Habitat
Epiphytes in lowland forest.

Notes
A monotypic genus in the Sarcochilus alliance that shows similarities to Dryadorchis. Plants of Rhinerrhizopsis are larger than those of Dryadorchis, while the inflorescence is not swollen. The long racemes carry many short-lived, brown-spotted flowers. The single species is easily cultivated in a warm greenhouse and is by no means unattractive.

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