Octarrhena cordata P.Royen, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2 (1979) 728, fig. 251
Type: Hartley 12955 (holo CANB; iso L)
Epiphytic, erect, sometimes subpendent in apical part, up to 20 cm high. Stems glabrous, simple or branched, flexuose, with inflorescences scattered along entire length but complete leaves remaining only in apical part, subterete. Leaves erect-patent, coriaceous, scattered warty, linear-ensiform, usually curved, 0.6-2.6 by 0.03-0.05 cm, laterally compressed, obliquely subacute; sheaths scattered warty, tubular, 0.2-1.4 cm long, compressed, widened and obliquely truncate at tip, indistinctly 3-ribbed. Inflorescences 1.8-4 cm long, in fruit up to 6.2 cm long, many-flowered. Peduncle glabrous, slender, 0.6-1.6 cm long, weakly 3-grooved, with 3-4 tubular scales along entire length; rachis glabrous, flexuose, 0.6-2.4 cm long, narrowly 3-winged. Floral bracts very sparsely warty, narrowly oblong-ovate or ovate, boat-shaped, 0.25-0.35 cm long, obtusely acuminate. Flowers entirely glabrous. Sepals connate at base only, turgid, subobtuse, 1-nerved. Median sepal ovate, 0.7-0.9 by 0.5-0.6 mm. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, 0.8-1 by 0.5-0.6 mm. Petals obliquely elliptic-ovate or elliptic-oblong, 0.4-0.7 by 0.3 mm, obtusely acuminate, 1-nerved. Lip cordate, 0.3-0.4 by 0.3-0.4 mm, obtuse, 1-nerved, nerve grooved above. Column stout, 0.4-0.5 mm long, at the base cup-shaped inflated and finely papillate; stelidia 2, glabrous, oblong, 0.2-0.3 mm long. Anther broadly transversely trapezoid, 0.3 by 0.5 by 0.1 mm, apiculate. Pedicel glabrous, 3-sided, 0.3-0.6 mm long; ovary glabrous, 0.12-0.15 cm long, 3-sided and 3-ribbed. (After van Royen, 1979)
Colours: Flowers golden yellow or orange-brown.
Habitat: Epiphyte in mossy subalpine forest and on treeferns in subalpine grassland; 3300 to 3680 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, May, June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 486-15M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte, requires light position.