Previously it was believed that the species of this genus belonged to the genus Angraecum within the subtribe Angraecinae. [2] The genus is named for Oakes Ames (1874-1950), founder of the orchid herbarium at Harvard University.[3]
These short-stemmed, miniature epiphytes form elliptic, coriaceous, distichous leaves. White flowers with pronounces spurs, indicating moth pollination, are formed on short, axillary racemes. [4]