Sarcochilus uniflorus Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 965
Type: Schlechter 19511 (holo B, lost; iso L; NB: Also holotype number of Bulbophyllum caloglossum Schltr.)
Epiphytic, stout, pendent; roots flexuose, glabrous. Stem to 13 cm long, densely leafy, covered with the striate and rugulose leaf-sheaths, c. 0.7 cm diam. Leaves patent, linear-ligulate, unequally slightly bilobulate, narrowed to the base, 9-16 cm long, near the middle 1.2-1.7 cm wide. Inflorescences very short, fascicled, 1-flowered, surrounded by a few small scales; peduncles very short, 0.3-0.5 cm long. Floral bracts very small, distinctly shorter than the ovary. Flower glabrous, erect-patent. Sepals and petals oblong, obtuse, 1 cm long. Later sepals oblique. Petals a little shorter. Lip porrect, fleshy, as long as the sepals; lateral lobes almost square, broadly obtuse; mid-lobe very shortly triangular, broadly obtuse; spur conical, obtuse, porrect; at the base of the lip with a square, subretuse callus extending to the mouth of the spur. Column very short. Anther semiglobose-cucullate, obtusely apiculate; pollinia large, ellipsoid; stipe oblanceolate-linear, as long as the pollinia; viscidium rounded. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, sessile, c. 1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers white, lip with violet-red spots.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1000 to 2200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, March, April, May, October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 625-232M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.