Pedilochilus obovatum J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 14 (1929) 441, pl. 70, fig. 88
Type: Lam 1688 (syn L); 1772
Terrestrial, very small, tufted. Rhizome short, branched. Pseudobulbs close together, subglobose to elliptic, longitudinally grooved, 0.6-0.95 by 0.6-0.4 cm; 1-leaved. Leaf oblong or lanceolate to more or less ovate, acute, fleshy, c. 1.1-2 by 0.65-0.73 cm; base shortly petiolate-contracted, above longitudinally channelled with convex sides. Inflorescences 1-flowered, from the rhizome; peduncle thin, c. 4 cm long, with c. 3 small, tubular, keeled sheaths. Floral bract tubular-funnel-shaped keeled, 0.43 cm long; apex obliquely truncate, very shortly apiculate. Flower medium size, c. 1.75 cm wide. Median sepal porrect, the upper third recurved, oblong-elliptic, slightly acuminate, acute, 1.1 by slightly more than 0.5 cm; base shortly contracted, concave; margin finely ciliate; on either side shortly puberulous; nerves 3, dorsally strongly prominent. Lateral sepals divergent, obliquely elliptic, c. 1.3 by 0.7 cm; base unilaterally slightly contracted, strongly concave; apex conduplicate, when flattened obtusely keeled-apiculate; front margin abruptly bent, inwards and on the bend dorsally keeled; posterior margins involute; inside papillose; dorsally the posterior sides puberulous, further minutely papillose; margins finely ciliate; nerves 5, dorsally prominent. Petals porrect, horizontal, entirely covering the column, glabrous, dorsally keeled, 1-nerved, in total 0.57 by 0.36 cm; in the middle concave-hollow, strongly oblique; claw rather short, 0.1 cm long; blade abruptly dilated, unequal sided, truncate, semideltoid, the basal angle rounded; margins slightly rounded; apex recurved, shortly triangular-acuminate, acute. Lip immobile, porrect; claw short, with a thick, fleshy, obliquely backwards pointing, dorsally compressed, rounded callus, in total 0.975 by 0.5 cm; blade boat-shaped, obovate, trilobed, conspicuously strongly concave, with the margins slightly incurved, thickened, 5-nerved, outer nerves almost along the margin, the lateral lobes basal, erect, falcate-recurved, obliquely oblong, obtuse, the front margin shortly decurrent in a 0.17 cm long sac; median lobule apical, fleshy, reflexed, 5-angular, obtuse, the margins convex-thickened, with a longitudinal convex keel, 0.2 by 0.16 cm. Column thin, in cross-section triangular, 0.27 cm long; clinandrium hollow, triangular; stelidia elongated, much longer than the anther, filiform-subulate, slightly sigmoid.; column-foot making an almost right angle with the ovary, the apex free from the lateral sepals, obtusely angled, incurved, thick, oblong, 0.18 cm long. Anther cucullate, in outline oblong, laterally compressed; lower part quadrangular, 0.08 cm long; base bilobulate with strongly thickened connective, at the back elongated in small, backwards pointing lobule; apex extended in a saddel-shaped, obtusely angled, slightly recurved, obtuse, papillose somewhat fleshy equally wide appendage. Pollinia oblong, outside convex. Ovary obliquely obconical, 6-grooved, 0.35 cm long; pedicel c. 1.1 cm long, 0.4. cm above the base articulate. (After Smith, 1929)
Colours: Pseudobulbs light yellow. Leaf bright green, somewhat lighter beneath. Floral bract yellowish violet. Median sepal inside violet. Lateral sepals on both sides pale yellow, densely dotted with violet. Petals outside shining dark violet, inside coloured like the lateral sepals. Lip coloured like the lateral sepals. Column pale green with a violet top and borders. Ovary dark violet, lighter at the base; pedicel dark violet.
Habitat: Terrestrial on open stony slope; 3200-3250 m.
Flowering time in the wild: October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 534-23M.jpg.
Cultivation: Cool growing terrestrial, requires light position.