Oberonia spathipetala J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19 (1908) 30
Type: Branderhorst 191 (holo BO)
Stems several, closely spaced, ribbon-like, 5-10 cm long, 4-7-leaved, with sheaths at the base. Leaves rather distant, patent, laterally compressed, linear, slightly falcate, acute, 3-14.5 cm long, 0.35-0.55 cm wide, the middle one the longest; sheath when dried membranous-marginate. Inflorescence densely many-flowered, glabrous, 9.5-12 cm long, peduncle 1.5-2 cm long, in the upper part with several sterile sheaths; rachis 8-10 cm long. Floral bracts lanceolate-triangular, acute, somewhat erose, concave, 0.2 cm long. Flowers more or less spirally whorled, 0.23 cm wide, 0.26 cm long. Median sepal ovate, subobtuse, 0.13 cm long, 0.08 cm wide. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, subobtuse, 0.13 cm long, 0.1 cm wide. Petals spathulate-obovate, rounded, apically erose, 0.13 cm long, 0.08 cm wide. Lip in outline subquadrangular, erose-dentate, 4-lobed, at the base hollowed out, 0.23 cm long, 0.2 cm wide, lateral lobes clasping the column, rounded, subfalcate; mid-lobe bilobulate, 0.08 cm long, 0.18 cm wide, lobules rounded, a little smaller than the lateral lobes, in the apical sinus with a small lobule. Column very short. Anther transversely ovate-elliptic. Ovary pedicellate, , 0.2 cm long. Fruit obovoid, triangular, 6-ribbed, 0.3-0.35 cm long. (After Smith, 1909)
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest.
Flowering time in the wild: October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 485-348M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.