Eria peraffinis J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 11 (1912) 137
Type: Gjellerup 737 (holo BO)
Pseudobulbs elongated, 1o cm long, at the apex c. 3-leaved. Leaves long lanceolate, acuminate, towards the base gradually narrowed, nerves 5-7, especially the 3 median nerves when dried dorsally strongly prominent in the basal part, other nerves in between also distinctly prominent at the base, 66-95 by 4.3-7.7 cm. Inflorescences elongated, many-flowered, producing flowers for a long time, peduncle acutely winged-triangular, 33 cm long; rachis similar to the peduncle, sparsely appressed blackish brown pilose, 65 cm long, internodes 0.25-0.4 cm long. Floral bracts persistent, appressed, triangular-lanceolate, long narrowly acuminate, concave, appressed blackish brown pubescent, 1.35 by 0.5-0.6 cm. Sepals dorsally sparsely appressed brown pubescent. Median sepal lanceolate-triangular, acute, subulate-apiculate, 3-nerved, 1.8 cm long, almost 0.6 cm wide. Lateral sepals reflexed, falcate-triangular, gradually very sharply acuminate, 3-nerved, 1.7 by 0.7 cm. Petals obliquely ovate-rhombic-lanceolate, at the base cuneate, gradually narrowed towards the apex, shortly acutely acuminate, glabrous, 3-nerved, 1.55 cm long, at 1/3 above the base 0.57 cm wide. Lip 3-lobed, at 1/3 above the base strongly recurved, 3-nerved, with three thick, slightly longitudinally grooved keels, at the base of the mid-lobe merging with two ribs and soon vanishing, lip when flattened in outline elliptic, at the base cuneate, 1.2 cm long, across the lateral lobes 0.8 cm wide; lateral lobes erect, rather small, obliquely triangular-oblong, at the base decurrent, obtuse, inside minutely puberulous, finely ciliate, in front 0.2 cm long; mid-lobe large, at the apex recurved, clawed; claw with strongly revolute margins, strongly convex, minutely ciliate, when flattened trapezium-shaped, 0.17 cm long, at the base 0.34 cm wide, at the apex 0.25 cm wide; blade broadly ovate-cordate, narrowed towards the apex, 0.6 by 0.68 cm, narrowly obtuse, apiculate, in the basal part with strongly recurved margins, convex, at the apex with incurved margins, crenulate, glabrous. Column slightly curved, broadly oblong, somewhat dilated above, dorsally convex, underneath concave and 3-ribbed, without anther 0.45 cm long, at the apex triangular, acute; clinandrium transverse, deeply concave; auricles broadly obliquely quadrangular, obtuse, the margin in the basal part incurved. Anther cucullate, cordate-ovate, obtuse, at the base contracted, 0.26 cm long. Rostellum triangular. Stigma obtriangular, with the lower margin raised. Column-foot making an almost straight angle with the ovary, slightly curved, oblong, 0.4 cm long, slightly 3-ribbed, at the apex with a puberulous thickening which is 3-dentate at the back. Ovary pedicellate, clavate, above acutely triangular, sparsely appressed brown pubescent, 1.5 cm long. (After Smith, 1916).
Colours: Sepals and petals pale yellowish, the sepals as well as the ovary outside with blackish brown hairs. Lip whitish at the base, towards the front and on the lateral lobes light violet-brown with deep violet margins, the three keels dark violet-brown, merging into two yellow-brown keels with deep violet-brown margins, the keels grading to ochre-yellow towards the apex; mid-lobe pale yellowish, the claw deep violet-brown. Column shining pale yellow with brown-violet margins, stigma likewise with brown-violet margins, below the stigma with brown-violet longitudinal stripes, column-foot below the apex with an orange-yellow-brown, W-shaped thickening with deep violet-brown borders.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude 25-350 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July, October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 282-557M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.
Note: Related to Eria ramuana Schltr.