Epiblastus cuneatus J.J.Sm. var. unguiculatus J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 12, 3 (1915) 261
Type: Pulle (Versteeg) 2470 (iso L)
Rhizome elongated, roots villose. Young shoots 5-9 cm apart, initially at the base covered with several sheaths, the sheaths distichous, becoming larger upwards, appressed, overlapping, conduplicate, triangular, acute, keeled, in the basal part tubular, in front membranous, to 5-8 cm long, upper 1-2 sheaths articulated. Pseudobulbs elongated, entirely adnate to the rhizome or the lower ones with the apex free, the free apex appressed to the rhizome, when dried laterally compressed, 4.5-9 cm long, 1-leaved. Leaf strap-shaped, at the apex slightly obtusely angled-concave, subobtuse or subacute, sometimes apiculate, at the base conduplicate, mid-rib grooved above, prominent below, coriaceous, 13-26 by 2-2.6 cm. Inflorescences c. 8-10, fascicled, peduncles thin, 7.5-10 cm long. Floral bract very small, appressed, at the base dilated, acutely acuminate, concave, 0.16 cm long. Flower rather fleshy. Median sepal ovate, obtuse, strongly concave, 5-nerved, 0.75 by 0.43 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely triangular, slightly acuminate, obtuse, concave, mid-rib dorsally obtusely prominent, 5-nerved, 0.70-0.77 cm long, at the base 0.8 cm wide; mentum conical, obtuse, 0.5 cm long. Petals obliquely oblong, slightly dilated above, obtusely pointed, somewhat concave, 3-nerved, thinner textured than the sepals, 0.7 by 0.35 cm. Lip long clawed, wavy, concave, weakly 3-lobed, underneath with a small, deep channel, above with a broader but less deep channel, when not flattened 0.87 cm long, when flattened cross-shaped, 1 cm long; claw oblong, for the whole length, the margins excepted, thickened and adnate to the column-foot, 0.4 by 0.2 cm; blade deltoid, indistinctly 3-lobed, 0.6 by 0.65 cm, acuminate, obtuse, with the apical margins incurved, concave, undulate, lateral lobes erect, appressed to the column, rounded, blade largely covered with an almost 4-lobulate thickening which in front is broadly 2-lobed, the thickening on either side vanishing on the lateral lobes, on the mid-lobe with a stout, longitudinal, straight rib. Column short, thick, strongly dilated above, dorsally convex, without anther 0.35 cm long, at the apex triangular, obtuse, dorsally convex, inside somewhat concave, auricles incurved, triangular, obtuse. Rostellum notched. Stigma transversely elliptic. Column-foot with making an obtuse angle with the column and an acute angle with the ovary, straight, inside along the entire length with a stout rib of which the upper 2/3 is adnate to the lip, dorsally 3-ribbed, to the ovary 0.5 cm long. Ovary sessile, 6-grooved, almost 2 cm long. (After Smith, 1915).
Colours: Flower violet.
Habitat: Probably epiphyte in upper montane forest. Altitude 2400-3200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 272-9M.JPG
Cultivation: Probably cool growing epiphyte.