The diminutive of Sophronia a genus of orchids; from Greek sophron – modest, chaste; referring to the small flowers.
Epiphytic or epilithic herbs, sympodial, with creeping branched rhizomes. Stems thickened into small pseudobulbs, clustered. Leaves apical, solitary, fleshy or leathery, more or less erect. Inflorescences apical racemes, short, erect or arching. Flowers resupinate, 1-few, medium sized to large, showy, strikingly coloured red or purplish, often with yellow on labellum. Sepals similar, free, spreading. Petals wider than sepals, free. Labellum entire or 3-lobed, smaller than sepals and petals, free or partly joined to column, side lobes embracing column. Column short, 2-winged. Pollinia 8, in 2 groups of 4.
About 7 species from Brazil and Paraguay.
Small compact plants with disproportionately large, brilliant red or purplish flowers.
Withner (1993).
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.
