Trichotosia iodantha (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 92
Basionym: Eria iodantha
Epiphytic, pendent, up to 70 cm long. Rhizome very short, roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stems unbranched, terete, leafy, entirely covered with the closely appressed very densely villose-hispid leaf-sheaths, 0.6-0.7 cm diam. Leaves erect-patent, obliquely elliptic-lanceolate, narrowly obtusely acuminate, gradually somewhat narrowed towards the base, on either side softly puberulous, above eventually becoming subglabrous, 10-18 cm long, near the middle 1.8-3.3 cm wide. Inflorescences lateral, erectdensely villose; peduncle short; laxly c. 8-flowered, to 9 cm long. Floral bracts elliptic, narrowly obtuse, somewhat surpassing the ovary, villose. Flowers outside densely villose. Sepals oblong, narrowly obtuse, inside glabrous, 1.2 cm long. Lateral sepals subfalcateoblique, at the base along the front margins lobe-like prolonged; mentum oblongoid, obtuse, somewhat incurved, 0.8 cm long. Petals obliquely linearligulate, obtuse, glabrous, somewhat shorter than the sepals. Lip in outline oblanceolate-ligulate, 1.4 cm long, above the middle 0.48 cm wide, glabrous, basal part ligulate, somewhat concave, towards the middle gradually somewhat dilated, in apical fourth somewhat constricted [often with short but distinct lateral lobes] and towards the very apex somewhat dilated, in front truncate-broadly obtuse, somewhat retuse with a minute apicule; in apical third of the lip with 3 oblanceolate calli, the middle one somewhat closer to the apex. Column short, glabrous. Column-foot in front slightly incurved, ligulate; clinandrium lobes low. Anther subreniformcucullate, dorsally with a swelling, glabrous, in front truncate. Ovary sessile, very densely hispid, 0.7 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Hairs rust-brown. Flowers inside yellowish with red-brown stripes, anther violet-brown.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland and lower montane forest; 5 to 1200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, April, May, June, July, August, September, November, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands (Bougainville).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 704-50M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.