Cadetia parvula Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 425; 21 (1923) t. 146, fig. 549.
Type: Schlechter 19381; 19752 (B, lost).
Pseudobulbs crowded, erect to ascending, 1-leaved, cylindrical, 0.3-0.5 by 0.15-0.25 cm. Leaves oblong, 0.5-0.8 by 0.2-0.4 cm, apex obtuse. Inflorescences arising subterminally below the abaxial side of the leaf, 1-flowered. Pedicel and ovary 0.3 cm long, crescent-shaped in cross section. Flower c. 0.5 cm long. Dorsal sepal broadly ovate, 0.25 cm long, apex apiculate. Lateral sepals obliquely broadly ovate; mentum oblongoid, 0.23 cm long, obtuse. Petals obliquely ligulate, almost as long as the sepals, apex subacute. Lip clawed, the claw ligulate, c. 1.8 mm long, adnate to the column-foot, the blade oblong, somewhat dilated at the base, c. 2.3 mm long, total length 0.4 cm, in basal half minutely pubescent, slightly swollen in the middle, apex apiculate. Column short, pubescent in front. Fruit dorsally 2-winged, ventrally rounded, 0.6 cm long.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Flower white, lip near apex light yellow, anther light green.
Habitat: Epiphyte in rainforest. Altitude 450-600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: May, June.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Morobe Province: Waria area).
Map: PARVLMAP.JPG [Cadetia parvula Schltr., distribution map.]
Notes: Cadetia parvula is the smallest species in the genus. It is closely related to and should be compared with Cadetia crassula.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.