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Octarrhena cordata

Octarrhena cordata

Octarrhena cordata P.Royen, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2 (1979) 728, fig. 251

Type: Hartley 12955 (holo CANB; iso L)

Epiphytic, erect, sometimes subpendent in apical part, up to 20 cm high. Stems glabrous, simple or branched, flexuose, with inflorescences scattered along entire length but complete leaves remaining only in apical part, subterete. Leaves erect-patent, coriaceous, scattered warty, linear-ensiform, usually curved, 0.6-2.6 by 0.03-0.05 cm, laterally compressed, obliquely subacute; sheaths scattered warty, tubular, 0.2-1.4 cm long, compressed, widened and obliquely truncate at tip, indistinctly 3-ribbed. Inflorescences 1.8-4 cm long, in fruit up to 6.2 cm long, many-flowered. Peduncle glabrous, slender, 0.6-1.6 cm long, weakly 3-grooved, with 3-4 tubular scales along entire length; rachis glabrous, flexuose, 0.6-2.4 cm long, narrowly 3-winged. Floral bracts very sparsely warty, narrowly oblong-ovate or ovate, boat-shaped, 0.25-0.35 cm long, obtusely acuminate. Flowers entirely glabrous. Sepals connate at base only, turgid, subobtuse, 1-nerved. Median sepal ovate, 0.7-0.9 by 0.5-0.6 mm. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, 0.8-1 by 0.5-0.6 mm. Petals obliquely elliptic-ovate or elliptic-oblong, 0.4-0.7 by 0.3 mm, obtusely acuminate, 1-nerved. Lip cordate, 0.3-0.4 by 0.3-0.4 mm, obtuse, 1-nerved, nerve grooved above. Column stout, 0.4-0.5 mm long, at the base cup-shaped inflated and finely papillate; stelidia 2, glabrous, oblong, 0.2-0.3 mm long. Anther broadly transversely trapezoid, 0.3 by 0.5 by 0.1 mm, apiculate. Pedicel glabrous, 3-sided, 0.3-0.6 mm long; ovary glabrous, 0.12-0.15 cm long, 3-sided and 3-ribbed.
(After van Royen, 1979)


Flowers golden yellow or orange-brown.

Epiphyte in mossy subalpine forest and on treeferns in subalpine grassland; 3300 to 3680 m.

Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Papua New Guinea. See map

distribution in New Guinea

Cool growing epiphyte, requires light position.

February, May, June.

  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Podochileae
  • Subtribe Thelasiinae
  • Genus Octarrhena
  • Species Octarrhena cordata

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Octarrhena cordata

Octarrhena cordata P.Royen, drawing P. van Royen in Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2 (1979) 728, fig. 251, modified

Octarrhena cordata

Octarrhena cordata P.Royen, drawing P. van Royen in Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2 (1979) 728, fig. 251

Octarrhena cordata

Octarrhena cordata P.Royen, herbarium sheet, Hartley 12955 (isotype specimen L)