Oberonia thomsenii J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 14 (1929) 363, pl. 49, fig. 22
Type: Thomsen 689 (syn L; iso BO, K, U); 881 (syn L; iso BO)
Stems elongated, compressed, 16-25 cm long, including the sheaths 0.6-0.75 cm wide, internodes to 1.3 cm long, the upper ones shorter. Leaves c. 11-14 on either side, laterally compressed, short, erect, not articulated, the apical part triangular, acute, elongated in a tooth or apiculate, 0.1-0.6 cm long, in total 1.4-2.2 cm long; sheaths tubular, laterally compressed. Inflorescence terminal, cylindrical, densely many-flowered, more laxly so in the apical part, 8-9 cm long, 0.33-0.4 cm diam. across the flowers; rachis many-ribbed, glabrous. Floral bracts persistent, widely patent, oblong-5-angled, acute, concave, in the apical part somewhat erose, 0.1 cm long. Flowers (seemingly) arranged in c. 9-flowered whorls, very small, 0.2 cm long. Sepals and petals revolute. Median sepal ovate, obtuse, convex, slightly more than 0.1 cm long, 0.08 cm wide. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, obtuse, at the base broad, convex, slightly more than 0.1 cm long, almost 0.1 cm wide. Petals than less revolute than the sepals, linear, convex, 0.1 by 0.03 cm, with irregular margins, at the oblique apex subdentate. Lip 3-lobed, 3-nerved, at the base with a fairly conspicuous orbicular callus with two very small collateral depressions, including the auricles 0.23 cm long, to point of attachment 0.18 cm long; lateral lobes (auricles) erect, clasping the column, fairly conspicuous, obliquely oblong, when flattened obliquely rhombic, slightly falcate, obtuse, with irregular margins, in front angular-convex with a longitudinal keel, outside angular-concave, 0.06 cm long; mid-lobe distinctly larger, 0.13 by 0.1 cm, porrect, concave, in outline elliptic, at the base somewhat constricted, up to 2/5 below the apex bifid, the outer margins except at the base with fine laciniae, the apical lobules parallel, obliquely triangular, acute, separated by a linear sinus with a backwards pointing, short, obtuse tooth in the middle. Column very short, at the base contracted, 0.04 cm long, clinandrium conspicuous, transverse, hollowed out, wings obtuse; rostellum recurved; stigma quadrangular, with slightly raised margins. Anther cucullate, transversely subelliptic, connective longitudinally thickened, at the apex prolonged into a short obtuse beak. Ovary rather thick, glabrous, 0.1 cm long. (After Smith, 1929)
Colours: Flowers red.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 26 to 40 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 485-371M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.
Notes: Very similar to Oberonia lucida J.J.Sm., Oberonia dimorphophylla J.J.Sm. and Oberonia wariana Schltr..