Ceratostylis flavescens Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 244
Type: Schlechter 18685 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BO, K)
Epiphytic, very slender, caespitose, up to 25 cm high. Rhizome very short, stems filiform, slender, 1-leaved, at the base covered with lanceolate, acuminate sheaths, 10-20 cm long, scarcely more than 0.1 cm across, glabrous. Leaf erect, subulate-filiform, acute, glabrous, up to 7 cm long, as thick as the stems. Inflorescences few, arranged in terminal fascicles, with a few elliptic, acute, glabrous scales. Floral bracts very small, acuminate, clearly shorter than the ovary, hyaline. Sepals oblong, obtuse, glabrous, almost 0.3 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, at the base with the dilated front margins forming a very short mentum. Petals obliquely lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, by a little shorter than the sepals, front margin below the middle somewhat dilated. Lip narrowly elliptic, apex carnose, obtuse, with two thin, parallel lamellae from the base decurrent to the middle, as long as the sepals, glabrous. Column short, arms obliquely oblong, obtuse, quite long, foot almost lacking. Anther obreniform-quadrate, broadly obtuse, glabrous, pollinia obliquely clavate, viscidium minute, oblong. Ovary with the pedicel cylindrical-clavate, puberulous, about 0.45 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).
Colours: Flower yellowish, lip golden yellow.
Habitat: Epiphyte in upper montane forest. Altitude 1950-3200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, February, June, July, September, October, November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 125-51M.JPG
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.