Oberonia nephroglossa Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 172
Type: Schlechter 17328 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, short-stemmed, c. 8 cm high. Rhizome very short Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stems very short, 3-4-leaved, entirely hidden by the leaf-bases, to 2 cm long. Leaves erect-patent or suberect, falcate-oblique, ligulate, acute, free part 4-7 cm long, at the base 0.6-0.8 cm wide. Inflorescence carrying flowers up to the base, very densely many-flowered, cylindrical, c. 4.5 cm long, 0.6 cm diam. across the flowers. Floral bracts lanceolate, acute, with densely pectinate-dentate margins, dorsally papillose-muriculate, almost as long as the ovary. Flowers patent. Sepal broadly elliptic, obtuse, papillose outside, c. 0.12 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely lanceolate, subobtuse, glabrous, distinctly shorter than the sepals. Lip 0.15 cm long, near the middle 0.2 cm wide, at the base distinctly auriculate [‘clawed’ in error], quadrate, below the middle abruptly expanded into a reniform, apically bilobed blade, the lobes semiorbicular with a short semiquadrate sinus. Column very short, rather thick, glabrous. Anther subreniform, obtusely apiculate. Ovary cylindrical, with papillose ribs, 0.15 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers dark brown.
Habitat: Epiphyte in hill forest; 600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 485-251M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.