One of the common Oberonia orchids in the region, I found this growing on a tree within the CSIRO arboretum – a good sign that native orchids do come and make their home on cultivated trees. Or perhaps we should think of such incidences as a being graced by fairies. Indeed, the genus Oberonia is named after Oberon, King of the fairies, a allusion by the botanist John Lindley to the diminutive flowers of these orchids and their arrangement on the inflorescence.

Like other Oberonia orchids, this species has fleshy overlapping fan-like leaves seemingly flattened in one, very much resembling a small Iris lily. The very small blossoms are clustered on spike.