Oberonia papillosa Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 153
Type: Schlechter 19138 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, pendent, 9-10 cm long, several-stemmed. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stems flexuose, 5-6-leaved, entirely hidden by the leaf-bases. Leaves erect-patent or suberect, falcate, lanceolate-ligulate, acute, free part 1.7-2.5 cm long, at the base 0.4-0.6 cm wide. Inflorescence short, rather laxly c. 15-flowered, c. 2 cm long, surpassing the upper leaves, 0.5-0.6 cm diam. across the flowers, carrying flowers to above the base. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, apiculate, dorsally keeled, margins dentate, outside papillose, shorter than the ovary. Flowers very small, erect-patent. Median sepal oblong, obtuse, c. 0.15 cm long, outside minutely papillose. Lateral sepals a little shorter, obliquely ovate, obtuse, outside minutely papillose. Petals obliquely ligulate, obtuse, apical margins subdentate-irregular, somewhat narrowed towards the base, glabrous, as long as the lateral sepals. Lip at the base cordate-ovate, narrowed, apex shortly and obtusely bilobulate, glabrous, 0.1 cm long. Column short, rather thick. Anther reniform, obtuse. Ovary clavate, densely papillose, including the pedicel 0.25 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers greenish yellow.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, March.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 485-272M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.