Cystorchis versteegii J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 14 (1929) 345, pl. 43, 8
Type: Versteeg 1631 a
Stem elongated, decumbent, rooting, ascending, leafy, 35 cm long. Leaves 11, obliquely ovate, acute, apiculate, 5-nerved, midrib prominent below, pale marginate, 3.2-4.3 cm long, 1.6-2.1 cm wide; petiole channelled, including the tubular sheath 1.5-1.7 cm long. Inflorescence erect, long pedunculate, many-flowered, peduncle pubescent, 20 cm long, at the base with a few tubular, acuminate-acute, pubescent scales, rachis densely pubescent, more than 4 cm long. Floral bracts in basal part ovate-triangular, acuminate, concave, pubescent, to 0.9 cm long. Flowers 0.83 cm long. Sepals parallel to the petals. Sepals outside as well as the ovary glandulose-pilose with strongly patent hairs. Median sepal horizontal, oblong-ovate, somewhat acuminate, obtuse, concave, 1-nerved, 0.58 cm long, 0.25 cm wide. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong, obtuse, apical margin incurved cucullate-concave, margin in front at the base widened into a rounded inflated-concave lobe that is closely appressed to the bladder of the spur, concave, 2-nerved, 0.66 cm long, in total 0.8 cm long, 0.25 cm wide. Petals adhering to the median sepal, obliquely lanceolate, somewhat falcate, obtuse, concave, in about the upper half, especially on the side facing the median sepal strongly papillose, 1-nerved, 0.55 cm long, 0.15 cm wide. Lip spurred, in total 0.75 cm long, to the apex of the ovary 0.47 cm long, longitudinally grooved below, basal part (hypochile) orbicular-ovate, concave, thin, margin appressed to the column, 3-nerved, mesochile porrect, carnose-thickened, margin incurved, channelled, narrowly oblong, in upper part thickened into a longitudinal, oblong, papillose swelling, 0.25 long, 0.15 cm wide, epichile porrect, minute, strongly concave, orbicular-ovate, 0.06 cm long, separated from the mesochile by a constriction; spur parallel to the ovary, decurved, oblong, laterally compressed, apex rounded, at the base on either side with a conspicuous, deflexed, orbicular, laterally compressed, 0.18 cm wide bladder, this inside with an elliptic, fleshy gland and covered by the base of the lateral sepals, spur in total 0.33 cm long. Column short, thick, 0.27 cm long, clinandrium conspicuous, deeply concave. Anther deeply sunken in the clinandrium, cucullate, laterally compressed, cordate, apex produced into a broadly triangular, thin membranous beak, connective thickened into a high crest. Rostellum elongated, porrect, broad, bidentate. Stigma conspicuous, suborbicular. Ovary twisted, 6-grooved, 0.8 cm long, glandulose-pilose. (After Smith, 1929)
Colours: Floral bracts reddish. Sepals and petals green, tips whitish, lip orange.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest. Altitude 800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: Not known
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 209-26M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, keep in shade.