Species Information - Octarrhena aristata

Octarrhena aristata P.Royen, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2 (1979) 732, fig. 252

Type: NGF (Sayers) 21214 (holo CANB; iso BRI, L, LAE)

Synonyms:

Epiphytic, erect, sometimes pendent in apical part, up to 25 cm high. Stems glabrous, usually unbranched, only in apical part with inflorescences and complete leaves, subterete. Leaves erect-patent, fleshy, glabrous, falcate, linear, terete and slightly laterally compressed, 0.5-1.4 by 0.12-0.15 cm, obtuse; sheaths subdensely warty, tubular, 0.3-0.6 cm long, widened and obliquely truncate at tip, many-ribbed. Inflorescences 2-4.5 cm long, many-flowered. Peduncle glabrous, 0.5-0.8 cm long, with 2 tubular, 0.2-0.4 cm long scales; rachis glabrous, flexuose, 1.5-3.5 cm long, narrowly 3-winged. Floral bracts glabrous, broadly ovate, 0.12-0.15 by 0.12-0.15 cm, contracted into an 0.18-0.22 cm long terete awn, the basal bracts sometimes auricled on either side of the awn. Sepals glabrous, connate at base only, turgid, obtuse, slightly cucullate on inside at tip, 1-nerved, nerve somewhat grooved on inside at base. Median sepal oblong-ovate, 0.7-0.8 by 0.5-0.7 mm. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, 0.6-0.8 by 0.4-0.6 mm. Petals glabrous, obliquely ovate-rhombic, 0.3-0.4 by 0.2-0.3 mm, obtuse, 1-nerved. Lip glabrous, cordate, concave, 0.4-0.5 by 0.5 mm, obtusely acuminate, on inside with a knob-like basal appendage, 1-nerved. Column stout, 0.3-0.4 mm long, cup-like enlarged at base and finely papillate on that part only; stelidia 2, glabrous, oblong, 0.1 mm long, obtuse. Anther broadly ovoid, 0.2 by 0.4 by 0.1 mm, obtuse, connective umbonate at base. Pedicel glabrous, 0.2-0.3 mm long; ovary glabrous, broadly obovoid, 0.12-0.15 by 0.1-0.13 cm, 3-grooved. Fruit not seen. (After van Royen, 1979)

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