Malaxis moluccana (J.J.Sm.) Ames & C.Schweinf. in Ames, Orchidaceae 6 (1920) 73
Basionym: Microstylis moluccana
Stems rather short, terete, 15 by 0.9 cm, c. 6-leaved. Leaves petiolate; petiole 2.5 cm long, sheathing; blade obliquely lanceolate, 6.5 by 2 cm, with 3 main nerves prominent below, margins crispate, apex acute. Inflorescences racemose, erect, 17 cm long; peduncle 6.5 cm long, angular-winged, peduncle-scales few, decurved, linear-triangular, 0.75 cm long; rachis 11 cm long, angular-winged, very many-flowered. Floral bracts linear-triangular, 0.35 cm long, apex acute, reflexed. Pedicel and ovary 0.2 cm long, 6-ribbed, recurved. Flowers 0.45 cm wide, 0.5 cm long. Median sepal ovate, 0.35 by 0.25 cm, 3-veined, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals ovate, a little shorter than the median sepal. Petals elliptic, 0.3 by 0.2 cm, 1-veined, apex subacute. Lip 5-angular-cordate, 0.27 by 0.2 cm, basal auricles small, rounded, somewhat concave, with two convex, low keels, separated by a groove, apex acute. Column 0.17 cm long, arms touching, prolonged, fleshy, obtuse, convex. Anther very small, oblong. Fruit clavate, with 6 large ribs, 3 small ones, and 3 still smaller ones, 0.65 cm. (After Smith, 1903)
Colours: Leaves shiny, somewhat greyish green. Sepals brownish yellow, the lateral ones greenish to the apex; petals lighter than the sepals. Lip orange-yellow. Column orange yellow with very dark green arms.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland and montane forest; 50-1800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, March, April, May, June, August, September, October, November, December.
Distribution: Malesia (Moluccas, New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 431-270M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm to intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.