Cadetia sayeri (Schltr.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 424.
Basionym: Dendrobium sayeri.
Rhizome very short. Stems crowded, erect, subterete, slightly thickened towards the apex, 1.5-2.5 cm by 2 mm, 1-leaved. Leaves erect-patent to erect, linear, 2-2.5 by 0.2-0.25 cm, coriaceous, apex subacute. Inflorescences terminal, 1-flowered. Pedicel and ovary 1.5 cm long, weakly triangular. Flower c. 0.7 cm across. Dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate, 0.35 cm long, apex acute. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong-ovate, 0.35 cm long, apex acute; mentum 0.25 cm long. Petals linear, 0.35 cm long, apex acute. Lip 3-lobed clawed, 0.6 by 0.3 cm, claw linear at the base, papillose, with 3 calli; lateral lobes minute, tooth-like; midlobe very broadly cuneate, fleshy, glabrous, apex very broadly obtuse-truncate. Column short, stelidia almost twice as long as the filament.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Not recorded. Altitude 2500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: Not recorded.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Oro Province: Mt Obree).
Map: SAYERMAP.JPG [Cadetia sayeri (Schltr.) Schltr., distribution map.]
Notes: Cadetia sayeri is one of several species of Cadetia that currently are only known from the original description. In the present case, this description strongly suggests Cadetia chionantha, a common mountain species, except that the apex of the lip is emarginate in C. chionantha, while it is described as truncate in C. sayeri.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.