Octarrhena cucullifera J.J.Sm., Meded. Rijks-Herb. 23 (1915) 17
Type: Pulle (Versteeg) 2410 (holo BO; iso L 2x)
Stem unbranched, elongated, flexuose, in the basal part rooting and defoliated, 13-45 cm long, internodes 0.5-1.5 cm long. Leaves distichous, articulated, equitant, patent, laterally compressed, obliquely ovate-triangular to ovate-lanceolate, slightly falcate-incurved, acutely apiculate or subacuminate, carnose, 0.7-1.2(-1.6) by 0.3-0.5 cm; sheath tubular, laterally compressed, dilated towards the apex and dorsally angular, at the apex obliquely truncate, carnose, at the apex 0.5 cm or more wide. Inflorescences emerging from the nodes of the leafy part of the stem, short, surpassing the leaves, laxly several- or many-flowered; peduncle thin, in the basal part covered with sheaths, 1.1-1.5 cm long, with a few small, tubular, keeled scales; rachis angular, 1-2.6 cm long. Floral bracts patent, triangular, subulate-acuminate, concave, 0.15-0.25 cm long. Flowers turned to all sides, 0.45 cm wide, 0.4 cm long. Sepals widely patent, at the base connate, outside papillose. Median sepal orbicular-ovate, obtuse, 1-nerved, almost 0.25 cm long, 0.23 cm wide. Lateral sepals not decurrent, orbicular-ovate, slightly acuminate, obtuse, 1-nerved, almost 0.25 cm long and wide. Petals very small, free, oblong-spathulate, obtuse, minutely puberulous, 1-nerved, slightly over 0.13 cm long, 0.06 cm wide. Lip attached to the base of a pouch-like structure; the pouch much larger than the column, carnose, open and angular-truncate above, in the basal part prolonged and rounded-truncate, in frontal view rectangular, in lateral view obconical, in front almost flat and densely papillose-puberulous, 0.17 cm high, 0.13 cm wide; lip porrect, slightly incurved, entire, linear-ligulate, when flattened 0.23 by 0.07 cm, rounded, concave, convex below, inside and along the margins densely puberulous, 1-nerved. Column very short; clinandrium almost 2-locular, apical wings triangular, obtuse, concave, outside convex, puberulous. Anther almost flat, cucullate, transversely quadrangular-reniform, 0.07 cm wide. Pollinia 8, strongly unequal, the 4 larger ones obliquely subobovoid-elliptic, 0.03 cm long, the 4 smaller ones very minute, obovate. Ovary rather thick, obconical, finely warty, 0.18 cm long; Pedicel short, thinner, 0.05 cm long. (After Smith, 1915)
Colours: Flowers red-brown.
Habitat: Epiphyte in subalpine forest; 3100 to 3560 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 486-16M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.