Oberonia latilabris Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 172
Type: Schlechter 17431 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect, short-stemmed, up to 23 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stem very short, densely 3-5-leaved, entirely hidden by the leaf-bases, up to 7 cm long. Leaves falcate-oblique, ligulate, acute or subacute, free part 8-14 cm long, at the base 1.2-1.5 cm wide. Inflorescence erect or suberect, carrying flowers up to the base, very densely many-flowered, up to 11 cm long, c. 0.7 cm diam. across the flowers. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, with pectinate-dentate margins, outside densely papillose-muricate, as long as the ovary. Flowers patent. Sepals broadly ovate, obtuse, outside densely papillose, 0.15 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely lanceolate-oblong, obtuse, glabrous, shorter than the sepals. Lip 0.18 cm long, above the middle 0.2 cm wide, at the base minutely auriculate, shortly quadrate, abruptly expanded into a subreniform, bilobed blade with an obtuse sinus between the semiorbicular, broadly obtuse lobes, at the base of the blade with a crescent-shaped keel with a projection along the mid-vein extending to below the apex of the lip. Column very short, rather thick. Anther reniform, obtuse. Ovary cylindrical-clavate, densely papillose-muriculate, 0.2 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers intense deep brown.
Habitat: Epiphyte on trunks of palm trees; 400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: March.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 485-184M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.