After John Ansell (–1847), English gardener who discovered and collected the type in Africa in 1842.
Epiphytic, rarely epilithic or terrestrial herbs, sympodial, with erect white roots. Stems thickened into cylindrical, tapering pseudobulbs, dense, yellowish-green. Leaves apical, 4-10, narrow-lanceolate, grooved, dark green. Inflorescences terminal racemes or panicles, erect. Flowers resupinate, 20-many, medium sized, yellowish with darker reddish or brownish blotches. Sepals similar, dorsal free, laterals fused to column foot forming a small pouch. Petals similar to sepals but often shorter and broader, free. Labellum 3-lobed, side lobes embracing column, midlobe 2- or 3- ridged. Column moderately long, lobed at base, with a short foot. Pollinia 4, in 2 pairs.
1, 2 or 3 species, depending upon the taxonomy followed, from tropical and southern Africa.
Medium sized heavily blotched flowers; erect mass of white roots at base of plant.
Source: (2005). Orchidaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
