Orchidaceae

Nidema

Representative Image
Representative image.

Kingdom: Plantae Rank: Genus Parent: Orchidaceae Status: Valid

Morphological Description

Diagnosis: Plants of Nidema bear cream white flowers with the lip similar to the other segments. Other orchids in the flora with similar shapes have very differently colored flowers (Hexisea, etc.). Nidema might be confused with some species of Maxillaria but Maxillaria plants flower from the base of the pseudobulbs.

Vegetative Morphology

Habit: Mat-forming epiphytes. Pseudobulbs separated by rhizome segments.

Leaves: Leaves one, linear.

Reproductive Morphology

Inflorescence: Inflorescences terminal, few-flowered racemes. Flowers bell-shaped, white.

Flowers: Sepals and petals free, spreading, subsimilar, subequal. Lip unlobed, very shortly clawed, completely free from the column. Column lightly arching, the clinandrium narrowly hooded, without a column foot; pollinia 4, in two tightly compressed pairs.