Eurycentrum fragrans Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 64
Type: Schlechter 18759 (holo B, lost)
Terrestrial, erect, slender, 20-25 cm high. Rhizome stem-like, decumbent. Roots elongated, flexuose, villose. Stem leafy, terete, glabrous. Leaves 4-6, sometimes approximate, sometimes somewhat distant, patent, petiolate; blade ovate, acute or subacute, glabrous, 2-3 cm long, below the middle 1.2-1.7 cm wide; petiole dilated at the base, clasping the stem, about 1 cm long. Inflorescence laxly 4-7-flowered, glandulose-puberulous, peduncle with a few distant bract-like scales, rachis up to 7 cm long, secund. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate, as long as or a little shorter than the ovary. Flowers erect-patent. Median sepal lanceolate-elliptic, obtuse, in basal half sparsely covered with backwards-pointing hairs, 0.7 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, lanceolate, narrowly obtuse, dilated at the base, decurrent, as long as the median sepal, in basal half sparsely covered with backwards-pointing hairs. Petals obliquely elliptic-ligulate, apiculate, distinctly narrowed at the base, not falcate, almost as long as and adhering to the median sepal. Lip almost as long as the petals, at the base subovoid-saccate, margins incurved, thickened, oblong-cucullate, apically expanded into a transversely oblong, slightly emarginate, minutely apiculate, 1.5 mm long, 3.5 mm wide lobe; spur 0.5 cm long, subacute, inside with two globose, verruculose, sessile calli. Column short, margins of the stigma at the base extended into two decurved, wing-like lobes. Anther subquadrate-cucullate, dorsally with a large reniform callus. Pollinia obliquely clavate, viscidium large, with 3-lobulate upper margin. Ovary cylindrical, covered with backwards-pointing hairs, about 1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).
Colours: Leaves deep velety brown with narrow whitish margins. Flowers white, sepals tinged brownish.
Habitat: Terrestrial in montane forest. Altitude 2300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 298-3M.JPG
Cultivation: Cool growing terrestrial, requires humus-rich compost and shaded position.