Cadetia aprina (J.J.Sm.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 424.
Basionym: Dendrobium aprinum.
Roots to more than 9 cm long, 1-1.5 mm diameter. Rhizome very short. Pseudobulbs crowded, cylindrical, weakly 4-ribbed, 2-4 cm long, 2-3 mm diameter. Leaf lanceolate-oblong to linear-oblong, index 3.3-7.6, 1.6-4.6 cm by 2.5-8 mm, base cuneate-subpetiolate, apex obtuse, minutely bilobulate, mucronate, mucro longer than the lobules. Inflorescences terminal from the leaf axil and subterminal just below the abaxial side of the leaf, solitary, at the base with a 3-4 mm long tubular sheath. Peduncle 5 mm long. Ovary and pedicel 10-24 mm long, 5- or 6-winged, glabrous. Flower c. 1 cm across. Median sepal patent to reflexed, ovate-elliptic, c. 6 by 2.5 mm, obtuse, 3-nerved. Lateral sepals patent, (broadly) ovate-elliptic, 5.6-6.2 by 2.6-3.4 mm, obtuse, 3-nerved; mentum conical, 2-2.8 mm long, apical closed part c. 1.5 mm, apex rounded. Petals porrect, linear, 4.6-5.7 by 0.4-0.8 mm, slightly dilated to the apex and base, entire, obtuse, 1-nerved. Lip spathulate, 3-lobed, callus and hypochile papillose; hypochile 3.8-4.1 mm long, of which c. 0.7 mm fused with the column foot, 4.6-7 mm wide across the flattened lateral lobes; callus more or less 5-angular, sometimes indistinctly 5-ribbed, extending from the apex of the hypochile to about halfway the midlobe; lateral lobes linear-oblong, falcate, 2.0-2.7 by c. 0.7 mm, entire, apex obtuse to subacute; midlobe broadly obcordate, 2.7-4.1 by 3.9-6.3 mm, fleshy, margins entire, apex emarginate, with or without a short obtuse mucro in the sinus. Column 1.6-2.0 mm long, margins at apex papillose, wings triangular, clinandrium entire, with a narrow median tooth; foot 2-2.8 mm long, glabrous. Anther cucullate, c. 1 by 1 mm, base emarginate; apex truncate, pubescent; pollinia 1.5 mm long. Fruit not seen.
Colours: Whole flower white or sepals and petals white, lip light green, callus green.
Habitat: Epiphyte in mossy montane forest. Altitude 1525 to 3250 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, February, July, October.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Puncak Jaya, Jaya Wijaya, and Jayapura Regencies).
Map: APRNAMAP.JPG [Cadetia aprina (J.J.Sm.) Schltr., distribution map.]
Notes: Cadetia aprina may be recognized by the falcate lateral lobes, which point backwards like the tusks of a boar.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.