Eria retusa (Blume) Rchb.f., Bonplandia 5 (1857) 54
Basionym: Dendrolirium retusum
Rhizome very short. Pseudobulbs closely spaced, usually 2-leaved, ovoid to oblongoid, 1.2 by 0.9 cm. Leaves linear-lanceolate, to 7.5 by 0.9 cm, carnose, grooved above, comvex below, base petiolate-narrowed, apex obtuse. Inflorescences c. 3 from the upper internodes, arising from a small cavity, racemose, erect, 1.5 cm long, woolly hairy; peduncle 0.8 cm long, peduncle-scales few, rather large, oblong, acute, concave, very densely many-flowered. Floral bracts triangular, 0.27 cm long, apex acute, concave, membranous, glabrous. Ovary 0.15 cm long, pubescent. Flowers 0.27 cm across. Sepals outside with cobweb-like pubescence. Median sepal patent, oblong-ovate, 0.2 by 0.1 cm, concave, apex subacute. Lateral sepals obliquely patent, oblong-ovate, 0.2 by 0.1 cm, keeled outside, apex subacute. Petals lanceolate, 0.17 by 0.05 cm, apex obtuse. Lip ovate-triangular, 0.1 by 0.1 cm, with a longitudinal groove, without keels or calli, obtuse. Column short, obtuse, making an obtuse angle with the ovary, apex obtuse; column-foot very short; rostellum bent backwards. Anther slightly convex, transversely elliptic. (After Smith, 1905).
Colours: Flowers pale green.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest.
Flowering time in the wild: Not known.
Distribution: Java, New Guinea, Bima, Christmas Is., Australia, Solomon Is., New Caledonia.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.
Note: With its small green flowers and hairy sepals this is an atypical member of sect. Polyura, and it probably does not belong in this section.