Cadetia albiflora (Ridl.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 424.
Basionym: Dendrobium albiflorum.
Rhizome very short. Stems crowded, slender, 1.5-4 cm by 1.5 mm, 1-leaved. Leaves erect, linear-ligulate, 2.5-5 by 0.25-0.3 cm, carnose-coriaceous, apex apiculate. Inflorescences terminal from the leaf axil, 1-flowered, spathe 0.5 cm long. Pedicel and ovary 0.8 cm long, densely covered with reflexed cylindrical papillae. Flower c. 0.6 cm across. Dorsal sepal broadly elliptic, 0.3 cm long, apex apiculate. Lateral sepals obliquely broadly elliptic; mentum 0.2 cm long, apex retuse. Petals narrowly linear, 0.3 cm long, apex obtuse. Lip clawed, 3-lobed; lateral lobes connected by a transverse lamella, small, triangular, acuminate; midlobe very broadly reniform, obtusely apiculate to subretuse. Column short, pubescent in front, stelidia bidentate, filament tooth-like, acute.
(after Schlechter 1912 - as Cadetia potamophila).
Colours: Flower white, midlobe of lip yellowish, apex of column red.
Habitat: Epiphyte in rainforest. Altitude 150-200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June, October.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Waigeo Island; Biak-Numfor and Yapen Waropen Regencies); Papua New Guinea (Madang and Central provinces).
Map: ALBIFMAP.JPG [Cadetia albiflora (Ridl.) Schltr., distribution map.]
Notes: Cadetia albiflora is a small-flowered relative of Cadetia umbellata. Ridley's original description is poor and inaccurate, therefore we have here translated Schlechter's description of the synonymous Cadetia potamophila. The leaves can be wider than those Schlechter described, to c. 6 mm wide in the type of his var. kenejiae.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.