Oberonia asperula J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19 (1908) 30
Type: Versteeg 1322 (holo BO; iso L)
Stems very short, 4-leaved. Leaves laterally compressed, elongate-linear, acute, 7.5-27 cm long, 0.65-1 cm wide. Inflorescence laxly many-flowered, 15-20 cm long; peduncle and rachis puberulous. Floral bracts ovate, setaceous-acuminate, duplicate-lacerate, 0.2 cm long. Flowers spirally arranged, almost whorled, minute, 0.15 cm wide, almost 0.2 cm long. Sepals reflexed. Median sepal appressed to the ovary, shortly ovate-triangular, slightly acuminate, acute, at the apex minutely puberulous, convex, 0.1 cm long, 0.07 cm wide. Lateral sepals appressed to the ovary, at the apex incurved, broadly subobliquely triangular, subobtuse, at the apex minutely puberulous, at the base convex, 0.1 cm long and almost as wide. Petals recurved, oblique, at the base ovate-triangular, long acuminate, the very tip subobtuse, convex, 0.1 cm long, at the base 0.05 cm wide. Lip only attached in the middle at the base, in outline subquadrangular, somewhat narrowed towards the apex, at the base somewhat fleshy, 0.14 cm long, 0.13 cm wide, at the apex rounded-bilobulate, with incurved lobules. Column short, 0.05 cm long, auricles obtuse; stigma transversely elliptic. Anther semi-orbicular, with a short, triangular, obtusely acuminate beak. Ovary sessile, obconical, densely puberulous, 0.1 cm long. Fruit strongly patent, ellipsoid, triangular, 6-ribbed, with short bristle-like hairs, somewhat rough, 0.3-0.35 cm long. (After Smith, 1909)
Colours: Flowers green.
Habitat: Epiphyte on trees in Metroxylon swamps.
Flowering time in the wild: January, June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 485-20M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.