Ceratostylis spathulata Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 139
Type: Schlechter 14365 (holo B, lost)
Rhizome very short, covered with emarcescent sheaths, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, subfiliform, terete, glabrous, 15-20 cm by 1.5-2 mm, 1-leaved, at the base covered with long, lanceolate, acuminate, emarcescent sheaths. Leaves terete, subulate, 0.5-0.7 by 0.15-0.2 cm, apex acute. Inflorescences in a dense, 10-20-flowered capitulum. Floral bracts lanceolate, as long as or a little shorter than the ovary, apex acuminate. Pedicel and ovary 0.3 cm long, pilose. Flowers c. 4 mm long. Dorsal sepal ovate, 0.15 cm long, glabrous, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, 0.15 cm long, mentum spur-like, half as long as the ovary, cylindric, somewhat widened in apical half, obtuse. Petals obliquely lanceolate-oblong, obtuse. Lip obovate-spathulate with linear claw, 0.3 cm long, without keels, obtuse, glabrous, somewhat swollen near the apex. Column short, stelidia twice as long as the anther. Anther in front truncate-obtuse, subretuse. (After Schlechter, 1905).
Colours: Flower outside pinkish red, inside white, lip yellow near apex.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 1000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 125-140M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, grow in light shade.