Malaxis atrobrachiata (Ridl.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 78
Basionym: Microstylis atrobrachiata
Stem 4 cm long, 4-leaved. Leaves lanceolate, acute, at the base shortly cuneate, green, unequal, oblique, 5-nerved, margins crispate, 5 cm long, up to 1.5 cm wide, petiole 1.5 cm long. Inflorescence slender, 28 cm long, carrying flowers in apical half. Flowers very small, closely spaced. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, very narrow, deflexed, 0.3 cm long or less. Median sepal oblong-lanceolate, obtuse. Lateral sepals ovate, obtuse, broader, 0.2 cm long. Petals linear-oblong, obtuse, narrower than the sepals. Lip hastate, entire, acute, 0.2 cm long, auricles triangular, recurved. Column long, cylindrical, erect; apical wings large, oblong-elliptic, deflexed; rostellum erect, lanceolate, obtuse, as long as the minute, lanceolate, obtuse anther. Pedicel and ovary very short, 0.1 cm long. (After Ridley, 1916)
Colours: Flower colour not recorded, but column described as pale yellow or perhaps white with blackish green apical wings.
Habitat: Terrestrial in hill forest; 759 m.
Flowering time in the wild: Not recorded.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 431-33M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial.