Epiblastus acuminatus Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 239
Type: Schlechter 17546 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, K)
Epiphytic, robust, pendulous, up to 60 cm long. Rhizome elongated, entirely adnate to and enveloped by the pseudobulbs. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Pseudobulbs cylindrical, somewhat compressed, 7-8 cm long, when dried 0.8-1 cm across, 1-leaved, superposed, young shoots arising near the apex of the old ones. Leaves lorate-ligulate, acute, apiculate, 23-30 cm long, near the middle 2.2-2.5 cm wide. Inflorescences fascicled, short, 15-20, peduncles filiform, very slender, glabrous, up to 9 cm long, 1-flowered. Floral bract minute, scale-like, lanceolate, acuminate. Flowers glabrous. Sepals ovate, acuminate, about 0.95 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, at the base dilated along the front margin. Petals obliquely elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip in basal part oblong-ligulate, dilated into a suborbicular, long acuminate blade, in the centre with a transverse double callus, as long as the petals, near the middle 0.5 cm wide. Column short, almost half as long as the lip, widened at the apex, clinandrium dorsally extended into a lobule, foot rather short. Anther reniform-cucullate, notched in front, glabrous. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, subsessile, 2.5 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).
Colours: Flower white, mentum red; lip pink in the centre, anther deep violet-red.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland and montane forest. Altitude 300-1800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 272-2M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm to intermediate growing epiphyte.