Oberonia ovalis

Oberonia ovalis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 169

Type: Schlechter 18321 (holo B, lost)

Epiphytic, erect, small, to 6 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stems short, entirely hidden by the leaf-bases, often 4-leaved, to 2 cm long. Leaves erect-patent, ligulate, subobtuse, subfalcate, free part l.5-2.5 cm long, at the base 0.3-0.5 cm wide. Inflorescence often curved, pedunculate, to 2.5 cm long, c. 0.25 cm diam. across the flowers, peduncle slender, to 1.7 cm long. Floral bracts lanceolate, acute, dorsally keeled, entire, almost as long as the ovary. Flowers patent, minute, glabrous. Sepals broadly ovate, obtuse, 0.05 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals very broadly ovate, oblique, obtuse, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip broadly elliptic, a little longer than the sepals, with minute basal auricles, at the apex retuse. Column very short, rather thick, glabrous. Anther reniform, obtuse. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, including the pedicel almost 0.08 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)

Colours: Not recorded.

Habitat: Epiphyte in gallery forest; 150 m.

Flowering time in the wild: October.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 485-261M.JPG.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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