Malaxis ledermannii (Schltr.) W.Kittr., Bot. Mus. Leafl. 30 (1984, publ. 1985) 97
Basionym: Microstylis ledermannii
Terrestrial herb, 30-40 cm tall. Stem cylindrical, ascending or suberect, 7-12 cm long, 6-8-leaved. Leaves erect-patent, petiolate; blade obliquely oblong-elliptic, 6.5-11 by 2.5-3.5 cm, acuminate, base cuneate, margins slightly undulate; petiole dilated at the base, sheathing, 1-8-2.5 cm long. Inflorescence slender, 3-4 times exceeding the upper leaves, angular, to 30 cm long; rachis rather densely many-flowered, elongated, erect. Floral bracts deflexed, lanceolate, acuminate, shorter than the pedicellate ovary. Sepals oblong, 0.33 cm long, obtuse, the median sepal distinctly narrower than the lateral ones, lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely ligulate, 0.3 cm long, obtuse, hardly shorter than the sepals. Lip at the base deeply sagittate, blade subquadrangular, 0.3 cm long and almost as wide, above the middle 3-lobed; lateral lobes tridentate, with the lower tooth obtusely triangular, short, the two upper teeth triangular-falcate, acute; mid-lobe elliptic, split to above the middle; basal pit narrowly oblong, towards the apex surrounded by a V-shaped obtuse thickening; basal auricles obliquely triangular-oblong, 0.2 cm long, obtuse, with their bases subparallel, at the apices slightly divergent. Column rather thick. Ovary pedicellate, slender, 6-ribbed, 0.5 cm long including the pedicel. (After Schlechter, 1922)
Colours: Flowers light yellow.
Habitat: Terrestrial in alluvial lowland forest; 30 to 50 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 431-211M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.