Oberonia scapigera Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 167
Type: Schlechter 17831 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect, tufted, up to 11 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stems short, 3-4-leaved, entirely hidden by the leaf-bases, 1.5-3.5 cm long. Leaves erect-patent, oblique, sometimes subfalcate, linear, acute, glabrous, free part 3-5.5 cm long, at the base 0.25-0.3 cm wide. Inflorescence slender pedunculate, densely many-flowered, elongated, up to 6 cm long, c. 0.4 cm diam. across the flowers, peduncle terete, glabrous, c. 1.5 cm long. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, margins irregular, usually almost as long as the ovary. Flowers patent, minute, glabrous. Sepals patent, broadly elliptic, obtuse, 0.08 cm long. Later sepals oblique. Petals obliquely lanceolate, narrowed towards the apex, subacuminate, about as long as the sepals. Lip 0.1 cm long, with very indistinct auricles, in outline ligulate, apically bilobulate to above the middle with lanceolate, subacute lobules. Column very short, rather thick, glabrous. Anther reniform, obtuse. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, 0.08 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers light brown, lip darker, more orange-brown.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 485-329M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.