Spathoglottis elobulata J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 14 (1929) 354, pl. 46, fig. 15
Type: Bogor cult. (Exp. Wichmann, Djibdja) 37 h (holo BO; probable iso L 2x)
Pseudobulbs closely spaced, very small, ovoid, with ring-like internodes, 2.5 cm long, 1.6 cm diam., c. 3-leaved, at the base with a few cataphylls, these becoming larger upwards, strongly angular, the upper one with a small caducous leaf. Leaves erect, petiolate, the sheaths and petioles partly clasping each other; blade slightly lanceolate-linear, gradually very long and narrowly acuminate in the apical part, strongly plicate, with c. 8 nerves prominent above and 7 prominent below, rather firmly coriaceous, 60-73 cm long, 2.5-2.1 cm wide; petiole channelled, ribbed, 10-14 cm long; sheath tubular, 9-10 cm long. Inflorescences c. 2, erect, often branched; peduncle subterete, puberulous, 40-59 cm long, 0.33-0.45 cm diam.; peduncle-scales c. 4-6 (usually not in the upper part), tubular, to 3.5-5.3 cm long; rachis elongated, slightly nodding, puberulous, very many-flowered, 20 cm or more long. Floral bracts reflexed, elliptic-ovate, subacuminate, subacute, strongly concave, minutely puberulous, when flattened to 1.8 by 1 cm. Flowers rather small, 3-3.5 cm wide or a little larger. Median sepal oblong-elliptic, obtuse, concave, inside sparsely puberulous, dorsally puberulous, 1.95-2.1 by 0.83-0.9 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong-elliptic, at the apex narrowed, narrowly obtuse, obtusely concave, dorsally obtusely keeled, inside sparsely puberulous, dorsally puberulous, 1.75-1.9 by 0.83-0.9 cm. Petals obliquely elliptic to ovate-elliptic, obtuse, at the base slightly contracted, inside at the base puberulous, otherwise with short and very sparse hairs, dorsally sparsely puberulous, 1.8-1.9 by 0.95-1 cm. Lip 3-lobed, longitudinally grooved below, when flattened 1.55-1.6 cm long, across the lateral lobes 1.65-1.7 cm wide; lateral lobes incurved, when spread widely patent, slightly pointing backwards, obliquely narrowly oblong, at the apex along the interior margin slightly dilated, obliquely obtuse, 0.75-0.8 cm long, at the apex 0.3 cm wide, in the middle 0.24-0.25 cm wide, disc between the lobes square, above and underneath on the disc and also underneath on the claw of the mid-lobe sparsely pilose; mid-lobe spathulate, 1.15 cm long, in the middle more or less weakly geniculate-recurved, basal lobules absent; callus at the base of the mid-lobe bilobed, at the back concave, in front convex, at the apex sparsely long pilose, 0.3 cm wide; claw linear, convex, 0.13 cm wide; blade at the base broadly cuneate, almost obreniform, at the apex recurved, broadly but slightly retuse, on either side of the median line convex, almost 0.7 cm wide. Column slender, slightly clavate, curved, dorsally convex, underneath concave, 1.25-1.35 cm long; clinandrium strongly concave, with irregular margin; rostellum triangular, acute; stigma transverse. Anther cucullate, broadly ovate, obtuse, 0.2 cm wide; pollinia obliquely obtriangular-clavate, 0.2 cm long. Ovary 6-grooved, puberulous, 0.95-1.2 cm long; pedicel thinner, puberulous, 1.6 cm long. (After Smith, 1929)
Colours: Cataphylls green tinged purple. Leaves dull green. Inflorescence in the basal part dull purple, above pale green. Floral bracts purple, at the apex in the middle green. Flower purple, the lateral sepals at the base paler with purple dots; lateral lobes of the lip dark purple, outside white, especially near the apex with purple dots, disc between the lobes white with two longitudinal, parallel, purple stripes consisting of small dots; callus pale yellow with dull brown-purple dots, claw and basal half of the mid-lobe yellowish, longitudinally dotted with brown-purple, apex of the claw dark purple. Column purple, lighter at the base; anther white, pollinia yellow. Ovary dull dark purple, pedicel paler purple.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest.
Flowering time in the wild: Not known.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 652-20M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial.