Octarrhena podochiloides

Octarrhena podochiloides (Schltr.) Schuit., Blumea 48 (2003) 512

Basionym: Chitonanthera podochiloides

Epiphytic, small, branching at the base. Rhizome short, stem-like; roots filiform, glabrous. Stems unbranched, flexuose, up to 7 cm long, entirely hidden by the leaves. Leaves equitant, linear, apiculate, erect-patent, 0.45-0.7 cm long, c. 0.13-0.15 cm wide, somewhat fleshy. Inflorescences axillary, 1-2-flowered, slightly more than half as long as the leaves; peduncle short, with a few peduncle-scales. Floral bracts elliptic, shorter than the ovary. Flowers minute. Sepals suborbicular, shortly acuminate, almost 0.15 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals very minute, oblong, obtuse, very minutely papillose, about one fifth to one sixth as long as the sepals. Lip oblong, apiculate, minutely papillose, 0.13 cm long. Column short, papillose, clinandrium with two recurved auricles, large; stigma narrow, transverse. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, c. 0.1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)

Colours: Flowers bright cinnaber-red.

Habitat: Epiphyte in upper montane forest; 1800 to 1820 m.

Flowering time in the wild: October, November.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 486-68M.JPG.

Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.

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