Name: Isabelia pulchella 'Ruth'
Synonym: Neolauchea pulchella Kraenzl.
Etymology: pulchella = beautiful/pretty — a diminutive of pulcher, alluding to the plant’s delicate, attractive form and flowers. The clonal name 'Ruth' refers to a specific selected specimen with particularly pronounced traits (often more vivid in color or more vigorous). 
 
Original description: The species was described in 1897 by Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Kraenzlin as Neolauchea pulchella and later transferred to the genus Isabelia.
Origin / Distribution: Brazil (south and southeast).
Location / Habitat: Growing epiphytically in the cooler, humid cloud forests of the coastal mountain range (Mata Atlântica) at elevations of 700 to 1,500 m. It prefers shady to partially shaded locations with consistently high humidity and steady air movement.
Description & Notes: Isabelia pulchella is a charming miniature orchid with a creeping growth habit. The small, almost spherical pseudobulbs are surrounded by a net-like web of fibers and each bears a single, needle-like (linear-subulate) leaf. The flowers appear at the tips of short stems and are striking for the plant’s size: they glow in a vivid magenta to purplish pink.

When cultivated, mounting it on a piece of bark or a cork branch is especially recommended, as the rhizome creeps vigorously and can thus develop its natural growth habit. It requires intermediate to cool conditions (no extreme summer heat) and should never be allowed to dry out completely. 'Ruth' is a well-known award-winning clone, often prized for its particularly profuse flowering and compact structure.