Malaxis latipetala (J.J.Sm.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 81
Basionym: Microstylis latipetala
Stem 3.5-4.5 cm long, 5-6-leaved. Leaves patent, obliquely linear or lanceolate-linear, shortly acuminate, acute, strongly undulate, 3-nerved, mid-rib grooved above, keeled below, lateral nerves only slightly grooved and prominent, 5 by 0.6-1.1 cm; petiole channelled, including the tubular sheath 1.2-1.5 cm long. Inflorescence laxly several-flowered, peduncle angular, 4.5 cm long, with a few widely patent, lanceolate-linear, 0.5-0.6 cm long scales; rachis 3 cm long. Floral bracts reflexed, triangular-lanceolate, to 0.35 cm long. Flowers widely opening, 0.57 cm wide, 0.65 cm long. Median sepal elliptic, subacute, 3-nerved, 0.35 cm long, 0.23 cm wide. Lateral sepals obliquely broadly elliptic, very shortly acute, 3-nerved, 0.33 by 0.23 cm. Petals in outline rhombic, shortly cuneate-clawed, acute, concave, 1-nerved, 0.3 by 0.2 cm. Lip auriculate, sagittate, very shortly clawed, in outline ovate, at the apex truncate-rounded, conical-apiculate, above with two fleshy keels separated by a groove which merge in the basal part, in total 0.3 by 0.28 cm; auricles distant, falcate-triangular, acute or subacute, 0.08 cm long. Column rather long, ventrally almost longitudinally conduplicate, at the apex truncate, dorsally near the base with a small backwards pointing tooth, velutinous, almost 0.2 cm long, wings closely spaced, large, triangular, truncate, carnose, slightly over 0.1 cm long; clinandrium minute, concave. Anther porrect, surpassing the column-wings, oblong-ovate, obtuse, on either side with a small lobule, 0.04 cm long. Pollinia 4, linear. Rostellum porrect, triangular, obtuse. Ovary pedicellate, , widely patent, obtusely curved, 6-angular, 0.35 cm long. (After Smith, 1911)
Colours: Flowers Leaves green. Flowers greenish ochre, almost translucent. Column yellowish green, at the apex dark green. Anther ochrish yellow. Pollinia yellow. Ovary green.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest.
Flowering time in the wild: Not known (described from cultivated specimen).
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 431-206M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.