Oberonia ruberrima Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 162
Type: Schlechter 18863 (holo B, lost; iso BO, L)
Epiphytic, erect, many-stemmed, to 9 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stems short, densely 4-6-leaved, entirely hidden by the leaf-bases, to 5 cm long. Leaves erect or suberect, linear-falcate, acute, glabrous, free part 2-3.5 cm long, at the base 0.3-0.45 cm wide. Inflorescence carrying flowers up to the base, very densely many-flowered, straight or curved, up to 4 cm long, c. 0.4 cm diam. across the flowers. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, margins subdentate, usually somewhat surpassing the ovary, dorsally with a few papillae. Flowers very small, patent, glabrous. Sepals ovate, subobtuse, 0.08 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals linear-ligulate, obtuse, almost as long as the sepals. Lip at the base auriculate-cordate, panduriform, constricted at the middle, in apical half expanded into a suborbicular lobe which is bifid to the middle or beyond with obtuse lobules, 0.1 cm long, at the base 0.08 cm wide, at the apex a little narrower. Column very short, rather thick, glabrous. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, including the pedicel 0.1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers deep orange-red.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 485-320M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.