Epiblastus ornithidioides Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 137, f.
Type: Schlechter 14170 (holo B, lost)
Rhizome pendulous, to 80 cm long, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous [?]. Pseudobulbs 1-leaved, cylindric, 10-20 by 1-1.5 cm, often slightly curved, superposed. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 18-35 by 1.8-3.8 cm, coriaceous, apex subacute to narrowly obtuse, unequally bilobulate. Inflorescences in terminal fascicles of 10-20, 1-flowered; peduncle to 6 cm long. Floral bract ovate, small, much shorter than the ovary, apex acute. Pedicel and ovary 1 cm long, cylindric, glabrous. Flower c. 1 cm long. Dorsal sepal oblong, 0.6 cm long, apex narrowly obtuse. Lateral sepals oblique, towards the base widened along the front margin, 0.6 cm long, apex obtuse. Petals obliquely oblong, a little shorter than the sepals, apex obtuse. Lip elliptic, curved, c. 0.6 cm long, base along the median long adnate to the column-foot, apex subacute. Column short, slightly narrowed to the apex, rostellum low, transverse; column-foot long. Anther cucullate.
(After Schlechter, 1905).
Colours: Flower deep rose-red.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 1500-1600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 272-17M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate-cool growing epiphyte.