Restrepia royi is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae. It is an epiphyte with a yellow and red lip, a white dorsal sepal, and white petals. The species is native to Peru, and has been recognised by the American Orchid Society.
Restrepia royi was named after Roy Driessen in 2023.
Taxonomy Restrepia royi was described by Kevin W. Holcomb and Wiel Driessen in 2023. Prior to its formal description, the species was reportedly present in the horticultural trade under the name Restrepia elegans.
Distribution Restrepia royi is native to the wet tropical biome of Peru.
Description Restrepia royi is a small epiphyte with slender roots. The stem is up to long, and covered with five loose sheaths. The leaves are ovate, leathery, around long, and around wide.
The inflorescence is a single flower around long. The flower stem is thin, and around long. The lip is oblong in shape, around long, and around wide. The lip is yellow, mottled with red. The hypochile is convex, and the disc has a pair of low keels. The epichile has papillose edges, and has been compared to a chaise longue.
The dorsal sepal is around long, and around wide. It is membranous, translucent, and white, with three red veins. The synsepal is lightly concave, around long, and around wide. The lamina of the synsepal is elliptical, and orange with red markings.
The petals are narrowly linear-ovate, around long, and around wide. The petals are membranous, translucent, white, and have red margins and veins. The column is white, slender, around long, and around wide.
Restrepia royi is similar to Restrepia vasquezii, though the former has shorter stems and flowers, and a differently coloured synsepal.
Etymology Restrepia royi is named after Roy Driessen. Roy Driessen was the son of Wiel Driessen, one of the authors who described the species, and Renie Beurskens.
Horticulture In 2024, Restrepia royi was awarded a Certificate of Botanical Recognition by the American Orchid Society.
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