Corybas arfakensis (J.J.Sm.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 19 (1923) 21
Basionym: Corysanthes arfakensis
Tuber very small, globose, 0.37 cm diam. Subterranean stem 1.6 cm long, coarsely pilose; stem above the ground glabrous, 2.8 cm long, at he base with a 0.5 cm long sheath. Leaf cordate, shortly acuminate, apiculate, basal lobes broadly rounded, undulate, mid-rib underneath prominent and longitudinally grooved above, 1.8 cm long, including the basal lobes 2.1 cm long, 1.8 cm wide. Floral bract oblong-ovate, acuminate, recurved at apex, concave, 1-nerved, 0.5 by 0.23 cm. Flower erect, sessile. Median sepal erect, strongly incurved and concave, cuneate-linear-spathulate, broadly obtuse, apical margin minutely finely erose-crenulate, at the base 3-, above 9-nerved, nerves, especially the median, dorsally prominent, apical part dorsally finely warty, a little over 2 cm long, at the base 0.24 cm wide, at the apex 0.68 cm wide. Lateral sepals very small, obliquely subulate, 0.23 cm long. Petals very small, obliquely subulate, falcate, concave, 1-nerved, 0.55 cm long. Lip erect, tubular-convolute, in front ventricose-inflated, laterally compressed and thickened towards the base, recurved at the apex, in apical part inside finely warty, inside in the bend with a rather large, obtuse callus, with two short, conical, falcate-incurved, along the back 0.23 cm long spurs. Lip when flattened slightly 3-lobed, strongly dilated at the apex, in apical part 21-nerved, in total to the apex of the mid-lobe 1.2 cm long, mid-lobe abbreviated, slightly rounded, subulate-laciniate, lateral lobes much larger, obliquely rounded, near the mid-lobe subulate-laciniate, otherwise in front dentate-crenulate. Ovary 6-grooved, 0.6 cm long. (After Smith, 1915, as Corysanthes arfakensis J.J.Sm.).
Colours: Flower brown-violet with white tip.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lower montane forest. Altitude 1400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 178-15M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, keep in shade.