Ceratostylis platychila Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 138
Type: Schlechter 13990 (holo B, lost; iso K)
Rhizome very short, covered with large hyaline sheaths, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, slender, terete, glabrous, 5-10 cm by 1 mm, 1-leaved, at the base covered with emarcescent sheaths. Leaves usually terete, filiform, sometimes a little flattened near the apex, 3-4 cm long, hardly thicker than the stem, apex subacute. Inflorescences forming a few- to several-flowered capitulum. Floral bracts lanceolate, as long as or a little shorter than the ovary, apex acute. Pedicel and ovary 0.2 cm long, covered with short white hairs. Flowers c. 1.5 mm long. Dorsal sepal ovate, 0.15 cm long, with a few sparse hairs at the base, apex narrowly obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-triangular, slightly dilated at the base along inner margin, apex narrowly obtuse; mentum very short, obtuse. Petals obliquely lanceolate, 0.1 cm long, apex acute. Lip broadly ovate-subcordate, 0.15 cm long, retuse at base, somewhat thickened near the apex, glabrous, apex obtuse. Column short, stelidia hardly surpassing the anther; column-foot short. Anther almost helmet-shaped, in front retuse. (After Schlechter, 1905).
Colours: Flower pure white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 1000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 125-113M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, grow in light shade.