Trichotosia xanthotricha (Schltr.) Kraenzl. in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 50. II. B. 21 (1911) 149
Basionym: Eria xanthotricha
Epiphyte. Stems pendent, stout, not branching, slightly flexuose, 100 by 0.8 cm, laxly leafy. Leaf sheaths puberulous. Leaves subpatent, obliquely lanceolate-ligulate, 15-17 by 3-3.5 cm, subcoriaceous, sparsely hairy with rather long hairs on both sides, base somewhat narrowed, apex acuminate. Inflorescences lateral, racemose, pendent, as long as the leaves, densely villose, with short hairs, laxly 10-12-flowered. Floral bracts patent, ovate-lanceolate, longer than the ovary, apex acute to subacuminate, villose, with short hairs. Flowers erect-patent. Median sepal lanceolate, 1.4 cm long, outside densely pilose, inside glabrous, apex acute. Lateral sepals falcate, dilated in basal half, 1.4 by 0.9 cm, outside densely pilose, apex acuminate. Petals falcate, linear, almost as long as the sepals, with very sparse hairs, apex subacute. Lip 3-lobed, 1 cm long, arcuate, glabrous, oblong-clawed at the base, with a narrow, oblong, finely verrucose callus from the base to the middle and a small oblong callus at the apex of the mid-lobe; lateral lobes shortly falcate, oblong, obtuse; mid-lobe larger, with undulate margin, subacuminate. Fruit cylindrical, pilose, 1.8 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1905)
Colours: Flower colour not recorded. Hairs on plant and flowers rust-brown.
Habitat: Epiphyte in hill forest; 500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, April.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 704-111M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte, requires shaded position.