Octarrhena cupulilabra P.Royen, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2 (1979) 748, fig. 259
Type: Balgooy, van 671 (holo L)
Epiphytic, slightly bushy, up to 30 cm high, pendent in the apical parts. Stem glabrous, subterete, only in apical part with leaves and inflorescences. Leaves patent to erect-patent, coriaceous, glabrous, ensiform, sometimes falcate, 0.9-1.5 by 0.13-0.32 cm, at the tip dorsoventrally compressed, subacute, 2- to 3-nerved, nerves slightly raised [only when dried?], margins thin, irregularly crenulate; sheaths glabrous, 0.8-1 cm long, compressed-tubular, widened and obliquely truncate at tip, ribbed. Inflorescence 2-7.5 cm long, 8- to 25-flowered, slender, usually erect, sometimes pendent at the apex. Peduncle glabrous, 17.5 cm long, with one or two tubular, 0.3 cm long bracts at base and about halfway; rachis glabrous, slightly flexuose, 1-6 cm long, slightly compressed, winged and 2-ribbed. Floral bracts scattered papillate-warty on outside along crest, ovate, boat-shaped, 0.05-0.1 cm long, acute, 1-nerved, nerve crested on outside. Sepals broadly ovate, 0.15-0.2 by 0.15-0.2 cm, shortly obtusely acuminate, at the base only shortly connate and forming a tooth-like fold, 1-nerved, nerve crested on outside and slightly surpassing the tip of the sepal; median sepal very finely papillose on outside only, otherwise sepals glabrous. Petals pilose on both sides, ciliolate along the margins, obliquely spathulate, 0.07 by 0.04 cm, subacute, 2-nerved, slightly grooved along the nerves. Lip papillose on underside only, ciliolate along the margins, ovate, slightly concave, 0.15 by 0.12 cm, obtuse, 1-nerved. Column very short, 0.08 cm high, at the base with a cup-shaped appendage, appendage 0.15 by 0.1 cm, truncate; stelidia two, ear-like, finely papillate-ciliate on outside only. Anther broadly cucullate, 0.3 by 0.7 mm. Pollinia 8, unequal, pyriform, 0.1-0.3 mm long. Pedicel glabrous, 0.05-0.1 cm long; ovary papillate-warty on the ribs, narrowly conoid, 0.15-0.2 cm long, 6-ribbed. (After van Royen, 1979)
Colours: Flowers dark orange.
Habitat: Epiphyte in mossy subalpine forest; 3190 to 4000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June, July, October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 486-17M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.