Ceratostylis nivea Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 244
Type: Schlechter 18121 (holo B, lost)
Caespitose, slender, up to 16 cm high. Rhizome very short. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stems 7-12 cm long, scarcely more than 0.1 cm across, very slender, filiform, 1-leaved, at the base covered with a few lanceolate, acuminate sheaths. Leaf erect-patent, subulate-filiform, acute, glabrous, up to 5.5 cm long, as wide as the stems. Inflorescences few in a terminal fascicle, covered with elliptic, acute, glabrous scales. Bracts very small, ovate, apiculate, hyaline. Sepals oblong, narrowly obtuse, at the base sparsely puberulous, 2.75 mm long. Lateral sepals oblique, somewhat narrower than the median sepal, at the base dilated along the anterior margins, connate; mentum short but distinct, obtuse. Petals obliquely lanceolate, acute, glabrous, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip in basal part weakly clawed, narrowed, rhombic-ovate, apex carnose, obtuse, with two thin, puberulous lamellae from the base decurrent to above the middle, otherwise glabrous, 0.3 cm long. Column short, arms subquadrate, less than half as long as the lip; foot short but distinct. Anther quadrate-galeate, in front bidentate, glabrous. Ovary with pedicel clavate, puberulous, almost 0.3 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).
Colours: Flower pure white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in hill forest. Altitude 600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: August.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 125-100M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm-intermediate growing epiphyte, keep in light shade.