Octarrhena goliathensis J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 2 (1911) 20
Type: Kock, de 95 (syn BO); 150 (syn BO)
Stem erect, short, leafy, to 2.5 cm long, internodes 0.2-0.3 cm long. Leaves distichous, erect-patent, laterally compressed, slightly falcate, lanceolate-subulate, acute, narrowed at the base, the sides near the middle slightly concave, leaf-blade and sheath impressed-punctate, carnose, 0.55-0.9 by 0.14-0.2 cm; sheaths much surpassing the internodes, overlapping, tubular, laterally compressed, 3-ribbed in upper part, to 0.28 cm wide, narrowed in the basal part. Inflorescences axillary, erect, elongated, laxly several-flowered, peduncle thin, especially in the upper part laterally compressed, 5.5-7.5 cm long, with 3-4 small, tubular, to 0.55 cm long sheaths; rachis curved, slightly ribbon-like, ensiform, to 5 cm long 0.15-0.18 cm wide, internodes 0.6-0.8 cm long. Floral bracts patent, triangular, acute, concave, keeled, 0.2-0.3 cm long. Flowers alternate, distichous, secund, 0.33 cm wide, 0.3 cm long. Sepals at the base shortly connate, widely patent. Median sepal ovate-orbicular, slightly acuminate, obtuse, concave, 1-nerved, 0.17 by 0.18 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely orbicular-ovate, slightly acuminate, subobtuse, 1-nerved, 0.16 cm long and almost as wide. Petals very small, nearly semiorbicular, slightly acuminate, obtuse, convex, puberulous, 1-nerved, 0.03 cm long, 0.06 cm wide. Lip deflexed, triangular, narrowly obtuse, especially in the basal part puberulous-finely ciliate, 1-nerved, 0.13 cm long, slightly more than 0.1 cm wide. Column strongly upwards curved, in front below the stigma convex, in total 0.13 cm long, wings erect, oblong-triangular, falcate-incurved, conduplicate-concave with puberulous apex. Anther cucullate, subreniform-triangular, obtuse, lobulate, hardly 0.05 cm wide. Rostellum erect, broadly triangular, obtuse. Ovary pedicellate, , clavate, 0.2 cm long. (After Smith, 1913)
Colours: Flowers yellow.
Habitat: Terrestrial on mossy rocks in swampy subalpine vegetation; 3250 m.
Flowering time in the wild: March, April.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 486-31M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing terrestrial, requires light position.