Octarrhena gibbosa J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12 (1913) 24
Type: Gjellerup 1046 (holo BO; iso L)
Stems closely spaced, rooting in the basal part, elongated, unbranched, flexuose, laterally compressed, in cross-section elliptic, leafy, to 35 cm long, 0.16 cm wide, internodes 0.9-1.3 cm long; roots thin, ribbon-like. Leaves distichous, erect-patent, articulated, laterally compressed, sublinear, slightly falcate, abaxially slightly curved, adaxially almost straight, gradually narrowed towards the apex, 2.5-4.9 by 0.33-0.43 cm, acute, apiculate, at the base oblique, the sides slightly convex, somewhat carnose; sheaths longer than the internodes, tubular, strongly laterally compressed, ancipitous, dilated towards the apex, in front near the apex deeply notched, 0.38-0.47 cm wide. Inflorescences axillary, not perforating the sheaths, glabrous, laxly several-flowered; peduncle thin, 1.1-1.7 cm long, largely covered with sheaths, with a few small tubular, acute, keeled scales; rachis ribbon-like, angular, 3.5-4 cm long. Floral bracts patent, broadly ovate-triangular, slightly acuminate, acute, with somewhat irregular margins, concave, 0.25 by 0.2 cm. Flowers c. 10-11, patent, glabrous, 0.34 cm wide, 0.43 cm long, convex. Sepals at the base very shortly connate. Median sepal ovate, obtuse, convex, 1-nerved, 0.3 by 0.23 cm. Lateral sepals smaller, obliquely ovate, obtuse, slightly convex, 1-nerved, 0.23 by 0.18 cm. Petals widely patent, very small, obliquely orbicular, at the base very shortly clawed-contracted, inside convex with a longitudinal groove, 1-nerved, 0.13 cm long and wide. Lip minute, pointing downwards, straight, triangular, almost 0.1 cm long, 0.07 cm wide, obtuse, glabrous, in basal half, except along the margins, covered with two large calli separated by a narrow groove, the calli rounded in front and hollowed out in the middle. Column very short, thick, at the base with a thickened margin, below the stigma convex, 0.07 cm long; clinandrium deeply concave, filament triangular, obtuse; rostellum erect, broadly triangular, obtuse, convex below; stigma semi-orbicular. Anther cucullate, subreniform, 0.05 cm wide, at the apex narrowed and membranous, connective forming a short crest. Ovary obconical, rugulose, sparsely furfuraceous-finely punctate, 0.17 cm long; Pedicel thinner, 0.08 cm long. (After Smith, 1915)
Colours: Flowers light greenish yellow, column-apex white with dark brown dots.
Habitat: Epiphyte in upper montane forest; 1650 to 2100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, May, November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 486-30M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.