Eria kaniensis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 651
Type: Schlechter 17642 (holo B, lost)
Epiphyte, erect, 20-30 cm high; rhizome short, decumbent; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, shortly villose; pseudobulbs ovoid or ellipsoid, 4-angular, apex 2-3-leaved, 3-4 cm high, in the middle or below the middle 1.3-2 cm diameter; leaves erect-patent or suberect, oblanceolate-elliptic, acute or short acuminate, at the base gradually narrowed into the rather long petiole, glabrous, including the petiole 18-25 cm long, above the middle 1.7-2.3 cm wide; Inflorescence arising from the leaf-axils, slender, about as long as or shorter than the leaves, laxly 3-6-flowered; with a few clasping peduncle-scales, ancipitous, glabrous; bracts elliptic, short acuminate, as long as or somewhat longer than the sessile ovary. Flowers erect-patent, glabrous. Sepals lanceolate, subacute, 1.8 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, at the base dilated along the front margins, mentum conical, obtuse, 0.3 cm long. Petals obliquely lanceolate, acute, somewhat shorter than the sepal. Lip elliptic, subacute, entire, 1.8 cm long, near the middle 0.6 cm wide, above the middle with 5 somewhat thickened nerves, otherwise smooth. Column semiterete, glabrous, about half as long as the lip, column-foot slightly incurved, lateral lobes of the clinandrium shortly bidentate, median lobe rounded, minutely serrulate, apiculate. Anther conical-cucullate, broadly obtuse, in front deeply notched and with a forked umbo. Ovary triangular, 0.6 cm long, glabrous. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flower light yellow.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: May.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 282-346M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.