Orchids of New Guinea

Oberonia drepanophylla

Oberonia drepanophylla Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 174

Type: Schlechter 17339 (holo B, lost)

Epiphytic, erect, several-stemmed, c. 17 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. stems straight or nearly straight, 7-8-leaved, entirely hidden by the leaf-bases. Leaves falcate, lanceolate or lanceolate-ligulate, acute, free part 3-5 cm long, at the base 0.7-0.8 cm wide. Inflorescence densely many-flowered, carrying flowers up to the base, distinctly surpassing the upper leaves, 0.6-0.7 cm diam. across the flowers. Floral bracts lanceolate, acute, dorsally keeled, margins subdentate, about as long as the ovary, glabrous. Flowers patent, glabrous. Sepals broadly ovate or elliptic, obtuse, 0.15 cm long. Petals obliquely oblong-ligulate, obtuse, glabrous, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip a little longer than the sepals, above the middle 0.2 cm wide, glabrous, at the base minutely auriculate and quadrangular, subreniform-dilated, bilobed in apical fourth, lobes semiorbicular, broadly obtuse. Column very short, rather thick, glabrous. Anther subreniform, obtusely apiculate. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, c. 0.2 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)

Colours:

Flowers olive-green, lip brown at the base.

Habitat:

Epiphyte in lowland and montane forest, also in abandoned rubber plantations; 10 to 900 m.

Distribution:

Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua New Guinea. See map

Cultivation:

Warm to intermediate growing epiphyte.

Flowering time in the wild:

February, May, July.

References:

Schlechter, R., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1923) t. 68, fig. 244
O'Byrne, P., Lowland Orchid. Papua New Guinea (1994) 28, fig., pl.

Classification:

Family Orchidaceae
Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Malaxideae
Section Platyacron
Genus Oberonia
Species Oberonia drepanophylla

Notes:

One of the more common and easily recognised species.