Oberonia gracilipes Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 168
Type: Schlechter 18907 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect, tufted, to 13 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stems short, densely 6-8-leaved, entirely hidden by the leaf-bases, to 4 cm long. Leaves erect-patent, obliquely lanceolate, subacute, free part 1.3-2.5 cm long, at the base 0.4-0.5 cm wide. Inflorescence pedunculate, elongated, densely many-flowered, to 5 cm long, 0.4 cm diam. across the flowers; peduncle slender, 2-4 cm long. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, with subdentate margins, about as long as the ovary. Flowers patent, almost whorled, closely spaced, minute, glabrous. Sepals ovate, obtuse, hardly more than 0.05 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, wider than the median sepal, subelliptic. Petals obliquely ovate, obtuse, a little smaller than the sepals. Lip without basal auricles, oblong, 0.08 cm long, dilated in the middle, at the apex shortly bilobulate with triangular, obtuse, subparallel lobules. Column very short, towards the apex conspicuously dilated. Anther subreniform-orbicular, obtuse. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, including the pedicel c. 0.08 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers brown, petals and column more yellowish.
Habitat: Epiphyte on trees in Imperata fields and in riverine forest; 200 to 300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 485-137M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.