Epiblastus pulchellus Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 240
Type: Schlechter 18783 (holo B, lost; iso K)
Epiphytic, patent, up to 40 cm long. Rhizome elongated, entirely adnate to and enveloped by the pseudobulbs. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs cylindrical, somewhat compressed, 1-leaved, superposed, young shoots arising below the apex of the old ones, 4-5.5 cm long, when dried 0.3-0.4 cm across. Leaves linear, subacute, apex oblique, 10-13 cm long, near the middle 0.8-1.2 cm wide. Inflorescences fascicled, short, 5-10, peduncles slender, filiform, glabrous, up to 6 cm long. Floral bract minute, scale-like, apiculate. Flowers glabrous. Median sepal oblong, obtuse, 1.1 cm long, lateral sepals obliquely ovate, narrowly obtuse, as long as the median sepal, outside slightly keeled along the mid-vein. Petals obliquely oblong-ligulate, subacute, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip in basal part quadrate-clawed, elliptic, obtusely, below the middle with two semilunate thickenings, as long as the petals, near the middle 0.5 cm wide. Column short, less than half as long as the lip, foot short. Anthers obreniform- cucullate, in front 3-lobed, mid-lobe smaller than the lateral ones. Ovary cylindrical, subsessile, glabrous, about 1.8 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).
Colours: Flower scarlet, sepals and lip lighter, calli on the lip dark purple, anther deep violet-red.
Habitat: Epiphyte in upper montane forest. Altitude 1750-2770 m.
Flowering time in the wild: March, July, November, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 272-19M.JPG
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.