Macodes megalantha Ormerod, Oasis, suppl. 3 (2004) 8
Type: Brass 12363 (holo AMES), from New Guinea, Idenburg River
Rhizome and roots not preserved. Stem 5-leaved, terete, 6.5 cm long, 0.8 cm diam. Leaves basal, approximate, probably rosulate, petiolate, broadly elliptic, acute, to 14 by 6.6 cm; petiole and sheath channelled, to 8.5 cm long. Inflorescence erect, pubescent, at least 23 [‘2.3’] cm long (tip missing in the type); peduncle 19 cm long, 0.45 cm diam., with three, scattered, about ovate, acuminate, 1.9-3.4 by 0.7-1.4 cm scales; rachis sublaxly more than 25-flowered, at least 13.3 cm long. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, acute, to 1.6 by 0.6 cm. Flowers outside pubescent, not resupinate. Median sepal ovate-elliptic, subacute, 1 by 0.5 cm. Lateral sepals slightly unequal, the smaller one obliquely elliptic, subacute, 1.1 by 0.6 cm, the larger one obliquely broadly elliptic, subacute, 1.1 by 0.65 cm. Petals obliquely ligulate, obtuse, 1 by 0.2 cm. Lip asymmetrically 3-lobed, 0.95 by 0.7-0.8 cm; internal appendages basal, one each side, semiglobose; hypochile up to the apex of the shorter lateral lobe 0.7 cm long, 0.8 cm long up to the apex of the longer lateral lobe; lateral lobes unequal, cymbiform-saccate, obtuse, free part of shorter lobe 0.2 by 0.4 cm, free part of the longer lobe c. 0.3 by 0.4 cm; mesochile (or claw of epichile) cuneate, c. 0.2 cm long, at the base 0.15 cm wide, at the apex 0.1 cm wide; epichile convex, broadly elliptic, obtuse, 0.25 by 0.2 cm. Column asymmetric, bent at right angles near the middle, 0.7 cm long; rostellum-arms oblong-ligulate, obtuse, 0.3 cm long; stigma lobes asymmetric, connate, reniform; frontal lamellae subtriangular, their lower margins connate for 3/4 of their length, frontal margins 1.75 mm wide. Anther narrowly ovoid, with two thecae, acute, 0.4 cm long, 0.1 cm wide. Ovary with pedicel cylindrical-fusiform, pubescent, 1.4-1.85 cm long. (After Ormerod, 2004)
Colours: Leaves variegated with bronze-brown and silver on upper surface, brownish below. Flowers with reddish-brown hairs, petals white.
Habitat: Terrestrial on streambank in montane forest; 1600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 425-25M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial.
Notes: Very similar to Macodes obscura and Macodes dendrophila, from which it differs mainly in the elliptic, convex epichile of the lip.