Ceratostylis longicaulis J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 11 (1912) 275
Type: Gjellerup 516 (holo BO; iso L)
Rhizome very short, branched. Stems closely spaced, erect, at the base terete, above in cross-section elliptic, 15-3o cm long, 0.25-0.28 cm diam., 1-leaved, at the base initially covered with numerous distichous sheaths; sheaths closely spaced, overlapping, becoming larger upwards, tubular at the base, in the apical part conduplicate, acute, membranous, to 10 cm long. Leaf erect, linear, at the apex conduplicate, acute, at the base slightly narrowed and conduplicate, mid-rib grooved above, prominent below, above on either side of the mid-rib convex, coriaceous, 11-15 by 0.4-0.85 cm. Inflorescences forming a small, many-flowered head; scales lanceolate, acute, concave, to 0.7 cm long; peduncles fascicled, 0.3 cm. long, 1-flowered. Floral bract almost appressed to and as long as the ovary, with its base clasping the pedicel, ovate-triangular, acute, strongly concave, very thinly membranous, 0.45 cm long. Flower 0.8 cm long. Sepals dorsally pubescent. Sepals and petals patent, revolute in the apical part. Median sepal lanceolate, obtuse, in the basal part concave, 3-nerved, 0.58 by 0.16 cm wide. Lateral sepals at the base dilated into an obliquely oblong lobule, front margins contiguous, obliquely triangular-lanceolate, obtuse, 3-nerved, 0.6 cm long, to the apex of the mentum 0.77 cm long, above the base 0.17 cm wide; mentum pointing backwards, appressed to the ovary, inflated, dorsally compressed, obovate-saccate, rounded, not retuse, distinctly surpassing the column-foot, to the apex of the ovary 0.2 cm long and at the apex 0.2 cm wide. Petals rhombic-lanceolate, gradually narrowed, 1-nerved, 0.58 by 0.14 cm. Lip elongated, wavy, clawed, weakly 3-lobed, 3-nerved, with two parallel, puberulous keels, extending to 0.28 cm above the base, in between with a third rib which vanishes in the basal part and which is thickened in the apical part; claw short, making a straight angle with the column-foot, with the base not elongated beyond the apex of the column-foot, oblong; lateral lobes erect, broad, short, rounded, finely ciliate; mid-lobe porrect, slightly recurved, elongated-triangular-subulate, narrowly obtuse, carnose, above and underneath convex. Lip when flattened 0.83 cm long, claw 0.1 cm long, mesochile obovate, 0.35 by 0.24 cm, mid-lobe 0.38 by 0.15 cm. Column bipartite, 0.16 cm long, arms oblong, obtuse, outside convex. Anther cucullate, elliptic, 0.06 cm long, at the base 4-lobulate-dilated, at the apex prolonged, underneath strongly concave, broadly obtuse. Column-foot pointing backwards, parallel with the ovary, at the apex free, angular-incurved, 0.1 cm long. Ovary pedicellate, curved, densely woolly-pubescent, 0.38 cm long. (After Smith, 1915).
Colours: Flower light yellowish pink, lip bright yellow, anther yellowish white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 1500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 125-84M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.