Epiblastus torricellensis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 238
Type: Schlechter 14487 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, pendulous, robust, up to 70 cm long. Rhizome elongated, entirely adnate to and enveloping the pseudobulbs. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Pseudobulbs cylindrical, somewhat compressed, 1-leaved, about 12 cm long, when dried about 1 cm wide, young shoots arising below the apex of the old ones. Leaves large, lorate-ligulate, subacute, apex oblique, slightly narrowed towards the base, glabrous, 30-40 cm long, near the middle 3.5-4 cm wide. Inflorescences 10-15, fascicled, short; peduncles filiform, slender, glabrous, up to 8 cm long, 1-flowered. Floral bract minute, scale-like, apiculate. Flowers glabrous. Median sepal ovate, narrowly obtuse, 0.85 cm long. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, obtusely acuminate, as long as the median sepal. Petals obliquely lanceolate-ligulate, narrowly obtuse-pointed, glabrous, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip in basal part narrowly ligulate, abruptly widened into an ovate-lanceolate, sharply acute blade, bent, decurved, near the middle with two semiorbicular, very small callosities, as long as the petals, near the middle 0.45 cm wide. Column short, glabrous, widened towards the apex, short, foot rather short. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, slender, subsessile, about 2 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).
Colours: Flower scarlet.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 900-2400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, April.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 272-24M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.