It has lavender pink flowers with a whiter labellum. "Isabelia" have unifoliated ovoid to fusiform pseudobulbs, linear or acicular leaves, and erect apical inflorescence bearing one of few flowers. The flowers have petals, sepals and labellum of the same color, which can be white, pale pink or magenta. Their sepals are widely elliptical to ovate; the petals can be narrower and oblong or wider elliptic. The labellum is entire and oblong. The labellum may be entirely free or partially fused to the column forming a nectary. The column is stout and darker than the rest of the flower and may have four or eight pollinia. All "Isabelia" species bloom from early autumn to early winter and their flowers last for about a week. Nothing is known about their pollinators. They have no known uses other than horticultural. "Isabelia" species are not very easy to cultivate. All species can be grown mounted on vegetable plaques and need plenty of humidity and ventilation and moderate to high luminosity. As these species suffer from frequent repotting it is good to leave room enough for five years of development. Their roots should not be kept humid during the night so morning waterings are preferred. The first species of "Isabelia" to be discovered was "I. virginalis". It was collected in Serra dos Órgãos, Rio de Janeiro and sent to Europe by George Gardner, in 1837. At that time it was regarded as possibly a "Maxillaria" species. Despite having been known for long time, for some unknown reason, "Isabelia virginalis" remained without a formal description and scientific name until 1877, when João Barbosa Rodrigues found several specimens of it in Caldas, Minas Gerais on the trees around jungle clearances. The name of this genus is an homage to Isabel, the Princess of Brazil, the daughter of D. Pedro II, Emperor at the time Barbosa Rodrigues published his book. The first "Isabelia" species to be formally described was "Sophronitis violacea", by John Lindley in 1840. It is a very short description where he mentions it does not have red flowers like the other "Sophronitis" species. In 1891, the botanist Carl Kuntze proposed it should be better identified as "Sophronia violacea".