Eria kingii F.Muell., S. Sci. Rec. 2 (1882) 71
Type: Goldfinch s.n. (Solomon Isl., Boneta) (holo MEL)
Rhizome very short. Pseudobulbs thick, close together, carnose, up to 10 cm long; covered with large, conduplicate, triangular, 1.5-7.5 cm long sheaths, apex 3-leaved. Leaves linear-lanceolate, towards the apex narrowed, narrowly obtuse, at the base long petiolate-narrowed, veined, when dried rigidly coriaceous, the top leaf narrowest and longest, 21-34.5 cm long 2-2-6.cm wide, lower leaves mostly much broader and shorter, 14-29 cm long, 1.7-2.8 cm wide. Inflorescences 2-5, erect-patent, shortly pedunculate, densely many-flowered, densely pubescent, 12.5-19 cm long, peduncle 2.5-3.5 cm long, with several appressed, oblong, elliptic, obtuse, concave, pubescent, up to 0.5 cm long scales. Floral bracts reflexed, ovate to oblong, obtuse, pubescent, up to 0.5 cm long, 0.37 cm wide, upper ones shorter and narrower. Flowers small. Median sepal ovate-oblong, apex somewhat recurved, obtuse, shortly apiculate, concave, dorsally pubescent, at the base 3-, including the branches 5-nerved, 0.65-0.7 cm long, 0.33 cm wide. Lateral sepals obliquely triangular, obtuse, concave, dorsally pubescent, above the base 5-nerved, 0.66-0.68 cm long, at the base 0.5 cm wide. Column-foot straight, making an acute angle with the ovary, obtuse, 0.33-0.35 cm long. Petals obliquely lanceolate, apex recurved, obtuse or somewhat acute, in apical part erose, 1-nerved, 0.6-0.63 cm long, 0.2-0.23 cm wide. Lip curved, indistinctly 3-lobed, in outline oblong, in the basal part concave, 3-nerved, when flattened 0.73 cm long, in the middle 0.4-0.43 cm wide, inside 3-ribbed, ribs, especially the lateral ones, in basal 2/5 raised, not extending to the apex of the lip, the ribs on the mid-lobe thickened and verrucose, the lateral ribs connate, forming a small tunnel; lateral lobes minute, tooth-like; mid-lobe broad, transversely subquadrangular, apex shortly and very broadly bilobulate, minutely crenulate, convex, 0.18 cm long, 0.37-0.4 cm wide. Column curved, 0.28 cm long; clinandrium on either side truncate. Anther cucullate, subglobose, at the base bilobulate, 0.1 cm wide. Pollinia 8, short, obliquely obtriangular or obovate, laterally compressed, 0.04 cm long. Stigma transversely ovate. Column-foot with making an acute angle the ovary, with the column making an obtuse angle, straight, broadly linear, truncate, 0.3 cm long. Ovary and pedicel slender club-shaped, pubescent, 0.9 cm long. (After Smith, 1911, as Eria hollandiae J.J.Sm.)
Colours: Flower yellowish with a deeper yellow lip.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude 0-650 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: Malesia (Sulawesi, Moluccas, New Guinea), Australia, Solomon Is.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 282-355M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.
Note: A very common species.