Eria imperatifolia Ormerod, Austral. Orchid Rev. 60, 6 (1995) 38
Type: ANU (Wade) 7667 (holo LAE; iso CANB, L)
Rhizome thin, woody, to 0.3 cm diam. Roots fleshy, pubescent, beneath pseudobulbs, 0.3-0.5 cm diam. Pseudobulbs narrowly ovoid to subcylindrical, 1.5-3 cm long x 0.5-1 cm diam., usually approximate or nearly so, but up to 7 cm apart, 2-leaved apically. Pseudobulb sheath enveloping much of the pseudobulb, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, papery, with 5-7 slightly prominent veins, to 7 by 1.5-2 cm. Leaves linear, acute, petiolate, thin with three slightly prominent veins, petiole 2-4 cm long, lamina 8-20 by 0.5-1 cm. Inflorescence subterrninal, 7-17 cm long, 0.1 cm diam., terete in the lower part, but winged below floral bracts, laxly 4-8-flowered. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, 0.8 by 0.25 cm. Pedicel with ovary triquetrous, glabrous, to 0.8 cm long. Flowers glabrous. Median sepal ovate-lanceolate, acute, 3-veined, 1.1-1.4 by 0.3 cm. Lateral sepals triangular-falcate, acute, 3-veined, 1.2-1.45 by 0.5-0.6 cm; mentum 0.4 cm long. Petals ligulate, acute, 3-veined, 1.1-1.4 by 0.25 cm. Lip oblong-ligulate, entire, acute, 1-1.2 by 0.3-0.35 cm, with three straight, low, lamellate keels throughout its length. Column slightly curved, 0.2 cm long; foot 0.3 cm long, forming a right angle with the ovary. (After Ormerod, 1995).
Colours: Flowers white.
Habitat: Epiphyte. Altitude 2250-2700 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, March, May, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 282-816M.JPG
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.