Oberonia chandrasekharanii

Oberonia chandrasekharanii V.J.Nair, V.S.Ramach. & R.Ansari, Blumea 28: 361 1983. (syn: Oberonia rangannana Kesh.Murthy, S.N.Yogan. & K.Vasudeva);
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SW. India as per POWO;
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Common name: Malabar Oberonia
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Leaves articulated, to 15 x 2 cm, ensiform, acute. Scape flattened. Spike to 25 cm long, pendulous. Flowers greenish-yellow, 2 x 1 mm, in verticils; bracts 2 x 1.3 mm, ovate, acute, denticulate, gland-dotted; dorsal sepals ovate-obtuse; lateral sepals ovate, acute; petals linear, truncate and denticulate at apex; lip 1.5 x 2 mm, semi-orbicular in outline, 3-lobed, papillose, gland dotted; lateral lobes auriculiform, folded upwards, rounded the column by the proximal end; midlobe 2-lobuled with a broad sinus; lobules orbicular; disc ovate, concave, sac like.

Flowering and fruiting: December-September
Evergreen forests
Southern Western Ghats (Endemic)
(Attributions- Dr. N Sasidharan (Dr. B P Pal Fellow), Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi from India Biodiversity Portal)
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Habit and habitat

TSP21SEP2015-3: Oberonia sp for ID assistance. : 4 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (6)

Submitting few images of an Oberonia sp for ID assistance.
Habit: Herb
Habitat: Epiphytic, montane forest
Sighting: Kuduremukha, Chikmagalur, Karnataka, about 1500 msl
Date 12-09-2015

This has very strange long leaves. The side lobes of labellum are arching above but not overlapping each other. I would have said Oberonia brunoniana but then the mid lobe seems a bit elongated. I would request … to check if this is Oberonia swaminathanii?

Otherwise to make my life easier I would say Oberonia brunoniana.
Oberonias are very confusing….. some characters like overlapping sidelobes of labellum may not be a good character at all. Sometimes, length of the leaves cant be considered either as leaf grows longer with the age of the plant.
… can you check if this is one of yours?

This one seems to be Oberonia chandrasekharanii V.J.Nair et al.
Please note the characteristic papillose lip.


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Kindly examine and identify this Oberonia sp (Orchidaceae) 

Habit: Herb 

Habitat: Wild, epiphytic, Evergreen forest 

Sighting: Guthi, near Chikmagalur, Karnataka, about 1300 msl 

Date: 19-08-2016


With hesitation I would say this is Oberonia chandrasekharanii.
I can see thickness on the labellum, kind of triangular in shape which is a character for this species and of course labellum has very short hairs on it. But some how flwoers are very dense on the stalk but that may be just an environmental issue.
Thanks for sharing.



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Oberonia species for ID from Chikmagloor-GS07012020-1 : 5 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (2)
Please help with the ID of this Oberonia sp., Mullayaiangiri Bababudangiri Road, Chikmagloor, Karnataka, September 26, 2015.  

I think it will be very difficult to identify with these low resolution images.
Pl. post original image, so that … may try.

Here are high resolution images, tentatively identified as O. chandrasekharanii  based on feedback by …


Yes sir. From these pics it looks like Oberonia chandrasekharanii but can’t be confirmed.


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Oberonia for identification 140812MK03:
Please help me to identify this Oberonia sp. found near a tea estate and grassland in Sholayar near TN-KL border. I cannot take proper close-ups with my small camera, sorry for the poor flower picture.

Leaf: 10-12cm long
Inflorescence: c. 15cm long
Date: 02 Aug 2012
Place: Solayar, Valparai, TN
Alt: 1100 m asl
Host tree: Erythrina

A nice robust Oberonia plant with handsome inflorescence. TFS
I think Detailed flower view is essential for ID of the species.


It is very complex to identify Oberonia without flower detailed. If
you have flower close-up please send it for confirm id.
I think this species is Oberonia acaulis Griff.


This is not acaulis but plz share closeup of flower.


Please share close up of the flower.

Check whether the lip is papillose or covered with hair like projections..
It looks like Oberonia chandrsekharanii.
But I can not confirm this ID unless without seeing lip characters.

Many thanks for the inputs. Actually the flower was in distant that my camera could not focus it. Collection was also not possible, as it is out of a fence in Tiger Reserve.


Can it be
https://efloraofindia.com/efi/oberonia-chandrasekharanii/ ?


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736 ID wild Orchid Oberonia: 16 high res. images.
Please ID wild Orchid,

Location: Senapati Idukki Kerala INDIA
Altitude: 4500fsl
Flower date: 09JAN2025, 02.40pm
Habitat: wild highland
Plant habit: epiphyte small obliquely unbranched stemless Orchid, perennial
Height: 15cm
Host tree: Mangifera indica
Leaves: alternate elongate acute simple fleshy, size upto: 15×02.5cm
Flower: terminal spike inflorescence, clustered, scarlet, non fragrant diameter:03xlmm
Fruit: capsule green into brown ovoid 

Seed:


Can it be
https://efloraofindia.com/efi/oberonia-chandrasekharanii/ ?


Yes, it is Oberonia Chandrasekharanii dear …, thank you very much for ID my Orchid.




Requesting for ID for this Oberonia sp.: 2 high res. images.
Please help in knowing the species name of this Oberonia.

Month of photo taken: August 2024
Place : Galibeedu village, Madikeri taluk, Kodagu district 
Elevation: Approx 1100 mts
Habit : Epiphytic 
Habitat: Moist evergreen forest 
Host tree: Ficus recemosa.
Average rainfall per annum: 3500 mm

where these orange and green ones growing at the same place?


Kodagu, Karnataka


No I mean on the same tree? Because I can see green flowered and orange flowered plant on the same trunk?


Yes sir. Ficus recemosa


I am thinking for are same species Oberona balakrishnanii, however, I cant confirm without looking at the dissection of flowers. One needs to check the margin of petals and sepals for presence and absence of hairs.


Sir, I am actually finding very difficult in identification of Oberonia sp. There are about 7-8 different species and I could only get to know O. Chandrakarnai


Ensiform leaves do seem to suggest O balakrishnanii. And lateral lobes of labellum do not seem to interlock at their ends however do seem to be bending upwards (appears so in the photo!)


So are you saying it is not balakrishnanii?

Ensiform films literally are found in all Oberonias!!
But the overlapping of lateral lobes of labellum is not something I buy for identification purposes. In this group of Malaxideae overlapping to me is dependent on maturity and weather conditions.
By the way, do they come in two colours?

No. I am inclined to say this is O balakrishnanii.
However, as I was reading the description of the species in Indian Oberonia by Ansari and Balakrishnan, I could not help but notice the description of the lobes.
The colour of the flowers is not mentioned though.


There are other aspects too to look into, like the margin of petals and sepals which are not visible in the pictures to confirm.
If you see a true balakrishnanii then you can share some good images please.


Yes. Will definitely share.
But you are right. There are many other details that matter.
Perhaps … can provide more input regarding them!

This is Oberonia chandrashekarani, with different morph.


There is a lot of study going on, on Oberonia and many species are going to be merged under another. So it is hard to say at this time which is which without a proper dissection.


Sir, Dr. Shreya Bettagere and me revisited the flowers again and looking the lip, it was concluded to O. chandrasekharni. But, Yes, this genus is upteem task for identification.


I dont see this as chandrasekharanii. The midlobe of the lip should have well developed lobules which I dont see here, side lobes should have been inrolled to cover the column which I dont see either. It is possible that the flowers are immature as all petals and sepals have not turned backwards yet (but some have). But anyways!!


 

Updated on January 27, 2026

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