[Greek ion, violet, and opsis, having the appearance of]

Mark W. Chase

Herbs, epiphytic, cespitose [sometimes with elongate rhizome]. Stems reduced, covered with leafy bracts; pseudobulbs reduced, inconspicuous. Leaves 2–6 basal per sympodium, 0 apical, not recurved [1 apical, 2–4 terete, basal to pseudobulb]; blade conduplicate, linear-lanceolate, dorsiventrally flattened margins, entire. Inflorescences panicles [racemes]; bracts tubular. Flowers: petals and sepals shortly oblong-elliptic, apiculate; lateral sepals connate; lip 2-lobed; callus lobulate-lamellate; nectar cavity basal; column short (3.5 mm), without appendages; stigmatic cavity ± round; rostellum not prominent. Fruits capsules.

Species 2 (1 in the flora): tropical and subtropical regions, Western Hemisphere.

Lower Taxon

• Ionopsis utricularioides (Swartz) Lindley