Erythrodes torricellensis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 59
Type: Schlechter 20053 (holo B, lost)
Terrestrial, erect, 25-30 cm high. Rhizome decumbent, stem-like. Roots elongated, flexuose, villose. Stem leafy, terete, glabrous. Leaves about five, erect-patent, petiolate, obliquely lanceolate-elliptic, acuminate or acute, glabrous; blade 5-6.5 cm long, below the middle 1.7-2.4 cm wide, petiole, dilated at the base, clasping the stem, 2-2.5 cm long. Inflorescence rather densely 8-12-flowered, subsecund, glandulose-puberulous, peduncle with a few acuminate scales, rachis up to 9 cm long. Bracts erect-patent, lanceolate, acuminate, about as long as the ovary. Flowers erect-patent or suberect. Sepals oblong-lanceolate, narrowly obtuse, outside sparsely glandulose-puberulous, 0.6 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, outside minutely apiculate. Petals along the margins cohering with the median sepal, base clawed, obliquely oblanceolate-spathulate, obtuse, glabrous, the free margin towards the apex subdenticulate-irregular, a little shorter than the median sepal. Lip as long as the petals, oblong-cucullate, in front broadened into a suborbicular, obtuse lobe, spur shortly bifid, short. Column short, glabrous, slender. Anther lanceolate-cucullate, sharply acute. Ovary cylindrical, glandulose-puberulous, 0.7 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).
Colours: Leaves sometimes lightly tinged reddish.
Habitat: Terrestrial in hill forest. Altitude 600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 287-30M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm-intermediate growing terrestrial, requires humus-rich compost and shaded position.