Oberonia sarcophylla Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 160
Type: Schlechter 18508 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, small, several-stemmed, to 10 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stems laxly 4-5-leaved, flexuose, entirely hidden by the leaf-bases. Leaves thickly carnose, linear-falcate, acute, glabrous, 3.5-8 cm long, at the base 0.35-0.4 cm wide. Inflorescence curved, very densely many-flowered, up to 3.5 cm long, c. 0.35 cm diam. across the flowers, carrying flowers up to the base. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, with dentate margins, about as long as the flowers. Flowers minute, patent, almost whorled, closely spaced, glabrous. Sepals broadly ovate, obtuse, glabrous, 0.05 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely oblong-ligulate, obtuse, glabrous, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip as long as the sepals, at the base auriculate-reniform, in apical half expanded into a suborbicular, apically subretuse lobe which is narrowed towards the base. Column very short, rather thick, glabrous. Anther transverse, broadly obtuse. Ovary subclavate, glabrous, including the pedicel 0.08 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers brown-red.
Habitat: Epiphyte in hill forest; 600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 485-327M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.