Thelasis abbreviata (Schltr.) W.Kittr., Bot. Mus. Leafl. 30 (1984, publ. 1985) 101
Basionym: Oxyanthera abbreviata
Epiphytic, erect, c. 10 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, glabrous. Pseudobulbs oblong, ancipitous, 1-leaved, c. 1.5 cm high, near the middle 0.5 cm wide, entirely hidden between the 4-6 leaf-bearing sheaths. Leaves ligulate, unequally and obtusely bilobulate, glabrous, 5.5-7.5 cm long, near the middle 7-9 cm wide. Peduncle very slender, erect, with a few small scales, terete, glabrous, c. 6 cm long; rachis very short, densely many-flowered. Floral bracts lanceolate, acute, much shorter than the ovary. Flowers glabrous, cleistogamous. Sepals ovate, acute, keeled outside, 0.2 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely lanceolate, subobtuse, almost as long as the sepals. Lip broadly elliptic, acuminate, with the margins towards the apex incurved, about as long as the sepals, somewhat concave. Column very short, without rostellum, glabrous. Anther ovate-cucullate, glabrous. Ovary shortly pedicellate, glabrous, c. 0.3 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers brownish flesh-colour.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 70 to 1000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: March, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 686-1M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.