Eria sabasaroe Ormerod, Austral. Orchid Rev. 60, 6 (1995) 39
Type: NGF (Sayers) 21274 (holo LAE)
Epiphyte. Rhizome not seen. Roots beneath pseudobulbs, 0.2-0.3 cm diam. Pseudobulbs cylindrical, 8-10 cm long, 1.3-1.7 cm diam., 3-leaved at apex. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, acute, coriaceous, finely many-veined, 21-39 by 2.4-3.9 cm. Inflorescence subterminal, shortly laxly pubescent, rather densely many- (at least 30-)flowered, to 30 cm long, 0.15-0.3 cm diam.; peduncle short, winged, 33.5 cm long. Floral bracts linear-lanceolate, acute, minutely pubescent, to 1.1 by 0.15-0.2 cm. Pedicel with ovary minutely pubescent, 0.6-0.8 cm long. Flowers very sweetly scented, outside minutely pubescent. Median sepal ovate-lanceolate, acute, 3-veined, to 1.1 by 0.4 cm. Lateral sepals triangular-falcate, acute, 3-veined, to 11 by 0.5-0.6 cm; mentum obtuse, 0.4-0.5 cm long. Petals ovate-lanceolate, acute, to 0.95 by 0.3 cm. Lip 3-lobed, to 1 by 0.6 cm, with three lamellate keels on the hypochile which raise higher on the mid-lobe and end abruptly, margins dentate-finely crisped, 0.4 cm long and broad. Column short, stout, with an apical, narrow, basally lobed wing, 0.3-0.4 cm long; foot forming an acute angle with the ovary, 0.4 cm long. (After Ormerod, 1995).
Colours: Flowers dark green, margin of lip tinged bright purple.
Habitat: Epiphyte. Altitude 1219 m.
Flowering time in the wild: October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 282-817M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.