Oberonia scytophylla Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 151
Type: Schlechter 19036 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect, several-stemmed, 15-25 cm high. Rhizome short, decumbent; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stem straight, densely 5-8-leaved, entirely hidden by the leaf-bases. Leaves erect or suberect, obliquely linear, acute, thickly coriaceous, free part 4-8 cm long, at the base 0.3-0.4 cm wide. Inflorescence carrying flowers almost up to the base, densely many-flowered, up to 12 cm long, usually surpassing the upper leaves, 0.5 cm diam. across the flowers. Floral bracts hyaline, patent, oblong-elliptic, apiculate, dorsally keeled, margins irregularly serrate, usually a little surpassing the flowers. Flowers very small, patent, at the apex of the inflorescence somewhat incurved, glabrous. Median sepal oblong, obtuse, 0.2 cm long. Lateral sepals ovate-oblong, subobtuse, as long as the median sepal. Petals obliquely ligulate, subacute, margins subentire, almost as long as the sepals. Lip at the base subcordate-dilated, constricted in the middle, above the middle dilated towards the apex, bilobed at the apex, apical lobes short, with an apiculum in between, truncate, front margin minutely denticulate. Lip in total 0.2 cm long, at the base and at the apex 0.15 cm wide. Column short, somewhat dilated towards the apex. Anther subreniform, subobtuse. Ovary clavate, glabrous, including the pedicel 0.2 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers yellowish, orange-yellow towards the base.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 485-332M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.