Octarrhena cylindrica J.J.Sm. in L.S.Gibbs, Phytogeogr. Fl. Arfak Mts. (1917) 126
Type: Gibbs 5993 (holo BM)
Stems closely spaced, compressed, unbranched, at the base densely rooting, c. 5.5 cm long, across the sheaths 0.38-0.4 cm wide, internodes 0.5-0.7 cm long. Leaves equitant, erect-patent, articulate, laterally compressed, linear, sometimes slightly falcate, acute, at the base strongly oblique, 2-3.5 cm long, near the middle 0.28-0.35 cm wide; sheaths clasping each other, tubular, laterally compressed, in front deeply slit, apex strongly oblique, longer than the internodes. Inflorescences axillary, erect, densely many-flowered, cylindrical; peduncle thin, 1.75-2 cm long, in the basal part with a few small, tubular, long-acuminate scales, in the upper part with numerous small bract-like scales; rachis angular, 2.4-2.8 cm long. Floral bracts at the base broad, long linear-acuminate, concave, with irregular margins, 0.14 cm long. Flowers minute, 0.17 cm long. Median sepal erect, triangular, subobtuse, convex, 0.06 cm long and wide. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-triangular, apex sometimes more or less contracted, narrowly obtuse, 0.08 cm long, 0.07-0.08 cm wide. Petals divergent, narrowly obliquely triangular, slightly falcate, acute, convex, 1-nerved, 0.07 cm long. Lip simple, decurved, making an obtuse angle with the ovary, near the middle obtusely incurved, subsigmoid, distinctly concave, 1-nerved, at the base only attached in the middle, in basal 2/5 of the lip with two longitudinal, parallel, approximate, oblong calli, lip when flattened ovate-oblong, narrowly obtuse, 0.1 cm long, almost 0.05 cm wide. Column with anther O.O6 cm long, clinandrium at right angles to the dorsal side of the column, concave; rostellum prolonged; stigma transverse. Anther cucullate, ovate-triangular, at the base slightly emarginate, apex narrowly truncate, 0.04 cm long. Pollinia 8, clavate-pear-shaped. Ovary obconical, making an obtuse angle with the pedicel, 0.06 cm long; pedicel thick, twisted, 0.06 cm long. (After Smith, 1917)
Colours: Flowers yellow; also reported as white, which requires confirmation.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 2100-2400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 486-18M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.