Ceratostylis keysseri Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 16 (1919) 214
Type: Keysser s.n. (X-1912, Saruwaged Mts., 2400-3000 m) (holo B, lost), neotype: Hartley 11249 (CANB; iso L)
Epiphytic, erect, slender, 20-22 cm high. Rhizome very short. Roots filiform, flexuose, thin, finely pilose. Stems very slender, filiform, 10-14 cm long, scarcely 0.1 cm diam., 1-leaved, at the base enveloped by a few clasping, pale sheaths. Leaf erect-patent or suberect, filiform-subulate, 6-7.5 cm long, scarcely 0.1 cm diam. Floral heads sessile, several-flowered, i. e. with several fascicled, 1-flowered inflorescences, surrounded by a few elliptic acuminate scales; peduncle very short. Floral bract elliptic, shortly acuminate, distinctly shorter than the pedicellate ovary. Flowers suberect. Sepals oblong, rather obtuse, 3-nerved, glabrous, 0.3 cm long. lateral sepals oblique, at the base along the front margin dilated; mentum very short, obtuse. Petals obliquely and obtusely oblong-lanceolate, rather obtuse, 1-nerved. almost as long as the sepals. Lip in outline narrowly ovate, carnose-thickened in apical third, obtuse, as long as the petals, with two parallel, minutely papillose-puberulous keels from the base decurrent to near the middle, otherwise glabrous, below the middle 0.13 cm wide. Column short, arms short, concave, obliquely and shortly semi-oblong. Column-foot very short. Ovary pedicellate, subclavate, finely white-pilose, 0.28 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1919).
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Epiphyte in upper montane forest. Altitude 2400-3048 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 125-72M.JPG
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.