Eria cordifera Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 664
Type: Schlechter 17687 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BO, E, G, K, L, NSW, S)
Epiphyte, erect, 20-30 cm high; rhizome very short, roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous; pseudobulbs cylindrical, two-leaved, 2.5-5 cm high, 0.4-0.7 cm diameter, covered with large, clasping sheaths; leaves erect-patent or erect, linear, acute, towards the base gradually petiolate-narrowed, 17-25 cm long, near the middle 0.5-0.8 cm wide; Inflorescence short, rather densely 4-7-flowered, arising laterally near the apex of the pseudobulbs, erect-patent, shortly pedunculate; bracts elliptic, obtuse, erect-patent, usually somewhat longer than the sessile ovary. Flowers erect-patent. Sepals oblong, obtuse, outside stellate-puberulous, 0.65 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, at the base dilated along the front margins, mentum obtuse, 0.28 cm long. Petals obliquely elliptic-ligulate, obtuse, glabrous, somewhat shorter than the sepals. Lip at the base broadly cuneate, above the middle 3-lobed, 0.65 cm long, between the apices of the lateral lobes 0.65 cm wide, at the base with a thin median keel decurrent on the base of the apical callus, with two parallel lamellae, sometimes provided with a single tooth, extending from the base to the base of the mid-lobe, lateral lobes divergent, triangular, obtuse, mid-lobe broadly ovate, obtuse, apical margin incurved, longer than the lateral lobes, with a large heart-shaped callus. Column short, glabrous, column-foot ligulate, lateral lobes of the clinandrium triangular, subacute, dorsal lobe tooth-like, smaller. Anther quadrate-cucullate, glabrous. Ovary sessile cylindrical, stellate-finely tomentose, 0.35 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flower reddish, inside with dark lines, or whitish tinged red.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 800-1100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: May, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 282-164M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.