Ceratostylis indifferens J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 39 (1910) 6
Type: Römer, von 659 (holo BO, lost?)
Stems in cross section elliptic. Leaf narrowly lanceolate, narrowly obtuse, at the base petiolate-contracted, conduplicate, obtusely concave, dorsally at the base and apex keeled, midrib grooved above, fleshy, 5.6 cm long, 1 cm wide, the contracted basal part 0.5 cm long; sheath 0.4 cm long. Inflorescences fascicled, covered with scales; peduncle short, 0.23 cm long, covered with membranous scales, 1-flowered. Floral bracts clasping the ovary, at the base tubular, above ventricose-concave, apiculate, 0.25 cm long. Flower 0.55 cm long. Sepals parallel, apex somewhat recurved. Median sepal oblong, somewhat acute, concave, outside near the base sparsely pubescent, 3-nerved, 0.37 cm long, 0.14 cm wide. Lateral sepals oblong-triangular, somewhat acute, concave, outside near the base sparsely pubescent, 3-nerved, from the apex of the ovary 0.37 cm long, 0.14 cm wide, with a narrowed basal part that is slightly longer than the column-foot, decurrent on the column-foot; mentum short, pointing backwards, appressed to the ovary, obtuse, in front ventricose, with a longitudinal groove, 0.13 cm long. Petals lanceolate, subulate-acuminate, 1-nerved, 0.35 cm long, about 0.1 cm wide, in the basal part concave, apex recurved, acute. Lip concave, shortly clawed, at the base on either side with a minute obtuse lobule (auricle), indistinctly 3-lobed, inside 3-ribbed, ribs puberulous, the lateral ones extending to 1/3 above the base, thickened above the base, mid-rib not reaching the base, when flattened 0.53 cm long, 0.2 cm wide, lateral lobes incurved, rounded, ciliolate, membranous, mid-lobe porrect, oblong-triangular, carnose, at the base concave, conical in apical part, obtuse, 0.23 cm long, 0.13 cm wide. Column 0.15 cm long, bipartite, arms obtuse, outside convex and with a longitudinal keel, inside concave. Anther cucullate, in front rounded, 0.05 cm long. Pollinia 8, unequal, obliquely oblong-pyriform. Column-foot pointing backwards, very short, 0.07 cm long. Ovary curved, pubescent, 0.3 cm long. (After Smith, 1911)
Colours: Flower red, lip yellow.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude 0 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 125-66M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.