Zeuxine erimae Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 90
Type: Schlechter 13677 (holo B, lost; iso BRI? (s.n.))
Terrestrial, erect, to 30 cm or more high; roots rather thick, flexuose, finely villose. Stem at the base usually decumbent, soon becoming erect, rather thick, at the base with clasping and soon withering cataphylls. Leaves patent to subpendent, lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous on both sides, at the base rounded, abruptly narrowed into the sheathing petiole, much longer than the internodes, to 8.5 cm long, above the base to 2.3 cm wide, upper leaves smaller. Inflorescence with puberulous, peduncle scales grading into the bracts; rachis slender, rather laxly many-flowered, elongated, to 20 cm long. Floral bracts at the base ovate or ovate-lanceolate, tip bristle-like acuminate, the lower bracts a little longer than the ovary, the upper ones shorter, puberulous. Flowers erect or suberect. Median sepal ovate, subobtuse, concave, 0.4 cm long, above the base c. 0.2 cm wide, puberulous outside. Lateral sepals ovate oblong, somewhat oblique, subobtuse, puberulous outside, almost as large as the median sepal. Petals obliquely oblong-lanceolate, subobtuse, along the inner margins adhering to the median sepal. Lip at the base saccate-concave, ovate, 0.4 cm long, at the apex dilated into a transversely subrhomboid, at the tip shortly apiculate, 0.1 cm long, in the middle 0.2 cm wide blade; in the concave basal part of the lip with 2 very small crescent-shaped appendages. Column short; rostellum bifid; pollinia narrow; stipe single, oblanceolate; viscidium oblong, obtuse, large. Ovary subcylindrical, c. 0.6 cm long, covered with reflexed hairs.(After Schlechter, 1905)
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest; 10 to 100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July, September, October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands, Vanuatu.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 732-40M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.