Octarrhena exigua Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 902
Type: Schlechter 19735 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect, simple, 2.5-3 cm high. Roots filiform, glabrous. Stem straight 1-1.5 cm long, densely leafy, covered with the leaf-sheaths. Leaves erect-patent, equitant, linear, acute, 0.5-0.9 cm long, 0.1-0.15 cm wide. Inflorescence erect, laxly 5-9-flowered, as long as or a little longer than the leaves. Floral bracts ovate, acuminate, less than half as long as the pedicellate, ovary. Flowers minute, glabrous. Sepals broadly ovate, obtuse apiculate, c. 0.1 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely broadly elliptic, obtuse, almost three times shorter than the sepals. Lip lanceolate-linguiform, 0.08 cm long, a little constricted below the middle, in the middle with an inconspicuous hump, apex subacute. Column short, thick; rostellum triangular bidentate. Anther reniform-cucullate, broadly obtuse; pollinia obovoid; stipe linear, as long as the pollinia; viscidium very small. Ovary pedicellate, , clavate, c. 0.18 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers yellow.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 486-23M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.