Malaxis maboroensis (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 81
Basionym: Microstylis maboroensis
Terrestrial, erect, 12-24 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Stem short, 3-4-leaved, erect. Leaves erect-patent or suberect, petiolate, obliquely elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, at the base cuneate; margins slightly undulate, glabrous; blade 3-6.5 cm long, near the middle 1-2.5 cm wide; petiole dilated at the base, sheathing, 1.5-2.5 cm long. Inflorescence slender, carrying flowers along half its length, otherwise with bract-like scales, subterete, glabrous; rachis rather laxly many-flowered, elongated, to 13 cm long. Floral bracts patent, lanceolate, acuminate, shorter than the ovary. Flowers patent, glabrous. Sepals ovate-oblong or broadly ovate, subobtuse. Median sepal 0.45 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, nearly 0.35 cm long. Petals obliquely linear-lanceolate, subobtuse, glabrous, as long as the lateral sepals. Lip sagittate-subreniform, c. 0.2 cm long [excluding the auricles], at the base 0.25 cm wide, shortly acuminate, with two falcate, carnose, in front confluent ribs extending from the from base to just below the apex, glabrous; auricles obliquely triangular, subacute, subparallel, 0.15 cm long. Column short, glabrous, dorsally at the base with a short, thick, backwards-pointing outgrowth, stelidia in front produced into a very small lobe. Anther ovate-cucullate, obtuse. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, 8-ribbed, including the pedicel 0.5 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers olive green, column at the apex almost blue.
Habitat: Terrestrial in montane forest; 1300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: May.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 431-232M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.