Cadetia collina Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 432; 21 (1923) t. 150, fig. 561.
Type: Schlechter 19256 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BM, G, K, L, MO, NSW, S).
Rhizome short. Stems crowded, erect, slender, slightly thickened in upper part, sharply 4-angular, 7-12 cm by 3.5-4 mm, 1-leaved. Leaves erect to suberect, obliquely oblong, 6-8 by 1.8-2.5 cm, coriaceous, base rounded, apex obtuse, minutely bilobulate. Inflorescences terminal from the leaf axil, several in succession, 1-flowered, spathe elliptic, 1 cm long. Pedicel and ovary 1.3 cm long, sharply 3-ribbed, with two additional obtuse lateral ribs, glabrous. Flower resupinated, c. 1.2 cm across. Dorsal sepal elliptic, 0.65 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely elliptic, apex obtuse; mentum spur-like, cylindrical, 0.4 cm long, obtuse. Petals obliquely linear-spathulate, 0.65 cm long, apex obtuse. Lip 3-lobed in basal third of the blade, clawed, 0.4 by 0.4 cm, claw linear, adnate to the column-foot, 0.4 cm long at the base; lateral lobes obliquely elliptic to suborbicular, broadly obtuse; midlobe 3 to 4 times as large, broadly obovate, at the base with two small, rounded, pubescent callosities, with 3 broad rounded keels extending from base to apex, laterally with two additional shorter keels, apex emarginate. Column short, in front minutely pubescent, stelidia obtuse, filament tooth-like, shorter.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Flower white, lip with rose lateral lobes and rose margins to the midlobe.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland rainforest and hill forest. Altitude 0 to 700 m.
Flowering time in the wild: Throughout the year.
Distribution: New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Sorong, Biak Numfor, Yapen-Waropen, Jaya Wijaya, and Jayapura Regencies); Papua New Guinea (Western, Sandaun, East Sepik, ?Western Highlands, Morobe, and Central Provinces, according to O'Byrne also in East New Britain).
Map: COLNAMAP.JPG [Cadetia collina Schltr., distribution map.]
Notes: Cadetia collina is a common and widespread lowland species. It may be recognised by the broad, slightly oblique and weakly falcate leaves, the 3-lobed lip, with broad lateral lobes and a broadly obovate, emarginate midlobe. It is closely related to Cadetia angustifolia, Cadetia doormanii and in particular to Cadetia quinquecostata and Cadetia stenocentrum, with which it should be compared.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte. Should be kept in light shade and be well-watered throughout the year, at the same time providing for excellent drainage.