Porphyrodesme papuana Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 983
Basionym: Saccolabium porphyrodesme
Epiphytic, unbranched, erect or pendent, c. 40 cm long. Stem more or less terete, glabrous, leafy, entirely covered with the tightly clasping leaf-sheaths. Leaves erect-patent, linear-lanceolate, subobtuse, minutely and unequally bilobulate, glabrous, thick-coriaceous, 10-13 cm long, in basal half 1.2-1.6 cm wide. Inflorescence with several branches, only slightly longer than the leaves, laxly many-flowered; peduncle c. 4 cm long, terete, glabrous, branches erect-patent. Floral bracts minute, ovate, acuminate, glabrous, much shorter than the ovary. Flowers usually not resupinate. Sepals oblong, obtuse, 0.2 cm long, glabrous. Lateral sepals somewhat oblique. Petals obliquely elliptic obtuse, subspathulate, a little shorter than the sepals and distinctly narrower. Lip 3-lobed, nearly as long as the sepals, glabrous, lateral lobes erect, semi-square; mid-lobe suborbicular, obtuse; spur subglobose-oblong, towards the mouth somewhat laterally flattened, 0.25 cm long, broadly obtuse. Column rather thick, short; rostellum ascending, notched. Anther rounded, in front subobtuse, acuminate; pollinia globose; stipe narrowly linear, much longer than the pollinia; viscidium as long as the pollinia, obovate, a little broader than the stipe. Ovary very shortly pedicellate, subclavate, glabrous, c. 0.2 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1905)
Colours: Flowers and inflorescence purplish red.
Habitat: Epiphyte, mainly on exposed (sometimes dead) trees in hilly country; 300 to 667 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, May, September, November.
Distribution: Malesia (Borneo, New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 578-3M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte, requires light position.