Eria fitzalanii F.Muell., S. Sci. Rec. 2 (1882) 252
Type: Fitzalan s.n. (Mulgrave R.) (holo MEL, lost). Neotype: Clarkson 2604 (neo BRI), designated by Clements (1989)
Epiphyte, stout, 45-60 cm high; rhizome very short, roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous; pseudobulbs cylindrical, laterally somewhat compressed, apex 2-4-leaved, at first covered with clasping sheaths which soon dry out, 10-17 cm high, near the middle 1.6-2.3 cm diameter; leaves erect-patent or suberect, narrowly elliptic-ligulate, narrowly obtuse, 25-40 cm long, near the middle 2.3-3.7 cm wide, towards the base gradually narrowed; Inflorescence near the apices of the pseudobulbs, erect-patent, densely many-flowered, up to 18 cm long, peduncle short, covered with scale-leaves; bracts reflexed, elliptic, narrowly obtuse, half as long as the pedicellate ovary or less. Flowers erect-patent or patent. Sepals oblong, apiculate, outside sparsely stellate-pilose, 0.6 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, at the base dilated along the front margins, column mentum obtuse, 0.25 cm long. Petals obliquely oblong, broadly obtuse, along the front margins somewhat decurrent, glabrous, somewhat shorter than the sepals. Lip entire, obovate-cuneate, glabrous, 0.65 cm long, below the apex 0.45 cm wide, in front truncate, retuse, in the middle longitudinally finely foveate-concave, above the base with three parallel keels decurrent to below the apex. Column short, glabrous, column-foot ligulate, lateral lobes of the clinandrium truncate-rounded, median lobe small. Anther orbicular-cucullate, glabrous, in front truncate. Ovary with pedicel, slender; sparsely stellate-puberulous, 1.1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914, as Eria indivisa Schltr.)
Colours: Flower white, lip light yellow.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude 0-750 m.
Flowering time in the wild: October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Australia, Solomon Islands.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 282-256M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.