Eria Lindley
in Edwards's Bot. Reg. 11(1825), t.904. (nom. cons.)

Introduction: A large genus of some four hundred species which occur mostly in tropical Asia extending to New Guinea, the Pacific islands and Australia.

Derivation of genus name: From the Greek word erion (wool) the genus was named by John Lindley in 1825 in reference to the woolly hairs which adorn the inflorescence, floral bracts and perianth of some of the species.

Type species: Eria stellata Lindley

Characteristics of the genus: Epiphytic plants with creeping rhizomes which usually branch freely. The inflorescence arises from the upper nodes of the pseudobulbs and bears small, often uninteresting flowers, which may be hairy or glabrous. Flower colour is mostly white to pinkish or yellowish. Quite common in the lowland forests of Papua New Guinea is E. javanica with its fleshy leaves and tall, densely-flowered inflorescence. The flowers of E. javanica are white to pale yellowish.

Species Line Drawing: Eria fitzalani
drawn by Neville H.S. Howcroft

Photos: Eria species

Habitat: Eria species are commonly found from sea level to the alpine mist forests growing in exposed positions as well as in deep shade.

Conservation status: not known