Ridleyella Schltr.,
Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 948
Sympodial epiphytic plants, rhizome very short. Pseudobulbs consisting of one internode. Leaves 2, without sheathing base, glabrous, dorso-ventrally flattened, articulate, duplicate, rather thin-textured. Inflorescence lateral from the base of the shoot, a panicle. Flowers small, not resupinate, dull violet. Sepals free. Petals free, intermediate in size and shape between the dorsal sepal and the lateral sepals. Lip without spur, not mobile. Column-foot present. Pollinia 8, solid-waxy, caudicles present, stipe absent, viscidium present.
Distribution
New Guinea. One species [Ridleyella paniculata (Ridl.) Schltr.].
Habitat
Epiphytes in hill and montane forest.
Notes
At present, this genus contains only a single species. This is a fairly small plant with fat, two-leaved pseudobulbs and tall, branched inflorecences carrying very small, dull violet flowers with free sepals. It is the only New Guinea orchid that answers this description, although Acriopsis may be said to resemble it in a superficial way. As one of the few endemic orchid genera of New Guinea Ridleyella is of considerable botanical interest, but its horticultural potential is very limited.