Oberonia heliophila Rchb.f. 1878 SUBGENUS Menophyllum SECTION Scytoxiphium Photo by Peter O'Byrne and The Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Jany Renz Herbaria Website

and

Common Name The Sun Loving Oberonia

Flower Size .06" [1.5 mm]

A pendulous medium sized, hot growing epiphyte found in Papua and New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu in lowland rainforest at altitudes of 100 to 500 meters with a very short stem carrying 4, ensiform, acute leaves and blooms on an initially horizontal and then pendulous, 20" [50 cm] long, terminal, many flowered inflorescence arising from between the central leaves that has many [several hundred] small flowers occuring in the spring and summer in nature.

This orchid is best mounted to accomodate the pendant inflorescence that has many flowers. Good ventilation, high humidity, bright shade and a tree fern mount with daily waterings will ensure happy growing.

Synonyms Iridorkis heliophylla (Rchb.f.) Kuntze 1891; Malaxis heliophila Rchb.f. 1878; Oberonia betchei Schltr. 1906; Oberonia pachyglossa Schltr. 1911

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Revision of the Orchids of German Samoa Schlechter 1910-1 as O betchei; Revision of the Orchids of German Samoa Schlechter 1910-1; The Orchidaceae of German New Guinea Schlechter 1911/85 as Oberonia pachyglossa drawing; Orchids of Vanuatu Lewis & Cribb 1989 drawing fide; The Orchids of the Solomon Islands and Bougainville Lewis & Cribb 1991 Drawing fide; Orchids of Samoa Cribb & Whistler 1996 drawing/photo fide; Orchids of Papua New Guinea Millar 1999; Flora Malesiana Orchids of New Guinea Vol IV Shuiteman and de Vogel 2006 as Oberonia pachyglossa

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