Genus Ridleyella
Ridleyella Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 948
Synonyms:
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.
Genus Ridleyella in New Guinea is present with 1 species:
Ridleyella paniculata
New Guinea. One species [Ridleyella paniculata (Ridl.) Schltr.].
Epiphytes in hill and montane forest.
- Pridgeon, A. M., P.J. Cribb, M.W. Chase & F.N. Rasmussen (Eds.). 2005. Genera Orchidacearum, Volume 4: Epidendroideae (Part one). P. 593. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
- Smith, J.J. 1916. Ridleyella paniculata. Nova Guinea 12(4): 446-447, t. 173, fig. 322.
- Subfamily Epidendroideae
- Tribe Podochileae
- Subtribe Thelasiinae
- Genus Ridleyella
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.
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Genus Ridleyella
Ridleyella paniculata (Ridl.) Schltr., flowers, photo Ed de Vogel, Leiden cult. 20032345 (de Vogel et al.), from Papua New Guinea, (Western Highlands Prov.)
Genus Ridleyella
Ridleyella paniculata (Ridl.) Schltr., habit, photo Ed de Vogel, Leiden cult. 20032345 (de Vogel et al.), from Papua New Guinea, (Western Highlands Prov.)
Genus Ridleyella
Ridleyella paniculata (Ridl.) Schltr., inflorescence, photo Ed de Vogel, Leiden cult. 20032345 (de Vogel et al.), from Papua New Guinea, (Western Highlands Prov.)
Genus Ridleyella
Ridleyella paniculata (Ridl.) Schltr., flower, front view, photo Ed de Vogel, Leiden cult. 20032345 (de Vogel et al.), from Papua New Guinea, (Western Highlands Prov.)
Genus Ridleyella
Ridleyella paniculata (Ridl.) Schltr., flower, oblique front view, photo Ed de Vogel, Leiden cult. 20032345 (de Vogel et al.), from Papua New Guinea, (Western Highlands Prov.)
Genus Ridleyella
Ridleyella paniculata (Ridl.) Schltr., flower, oblique lateral view, photo Ed de Vogel, Leiden cult. 20032345 (de Vogel et al.), from Papua New Guinea, (Western Highlands Prov.)
Genus Ridleyella
Ridleyella paniculata (Ridl.) Schltr., flower, lateral view, photo Ed de Vogel, Leiden cult. 20032345 (de Vogel et al.), from Papua New Guinea, (Western Highlands Prov.)
Genus Ridleyella
Ridleyella paniculata (Ridl.) Schltr., habit, photo Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Genus Ridleyella
Ridleyella paniculata (Ridl.) Schltr., pseudobulbs, photo E.F. de Vogel, based on Leiden cult. 31692
Genus Ridleyella
Ridleyella paniculata (Ridl.) Schltr., inflorescence, photo A. Schuiteman, based on Leiden cult. 31692
Genus Ridleyella
Ridleyella paniculata (Ridl.) Schltr., flower, photo A. Schuiteman, based on Leiden cult. 31692
Genus Ridleyella
Ridleyella paniculata (Ridl.) Schltr., flower, oblique front view, photo E.F. de Vogel, based on Leiden cult. 31692
Genus Ridleyella
Ridleyella paniculata (Ridl.) Schltr., flower, lateral view, photo E.F. de Vogel, based on Leiden cult. 31692
Genus Ridleyella
Ridleyella paniculata (Ridl.) Schltr., floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, from Sitanala 11207