Malaxis petiolaris (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 83
Basionym: Microstylis petiolaris
Terrestrial herb, slender, 20-35 cm tall. Stem cylindrical, erect or suberect, 7-10 cm long, 1-6-leaved in upper half. Leaves erect-patent, petiolate; blade obliquely ovate-elliptic, 6-8 by 2.3-3.2 cm, somewhat obtusely acuminate, base cuneate or cuneate-rounded; petiole only a little shorter than the blade, 3-5 cm long. Inflorescence 2-4 times exceeding the upper leaves, angular, to 23 cm long, (almost) without peduncle scales; rachis densely many-flowered, elongated, narrow. Floral bracts recurved lanceolate, acuminate, shorter than the pedicellate ovary. Flowers subpatent, almost 0.5 cm diam. Sepals oblong-elliptic, obtuse, the lateral sepals a little wider than the median sepal, oblique. Petals obliquely ligulate, obtuse, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip at the base broadly sagittate; blade quadrangular, above the middle 3-lobed, lateral lobes tridentate, with the lower tooth broadly triangular, shortly acuminate, upper two teeth linear-falcate, sharply acute, a little longer than the lower tooth; mid-lobe oblong, split to above the base; basal pit elliptic, thickened-marginate; basal auricles obliquely triangular, subobtuse, divergent. Ovary slender pedicellate, 6-ribbed, glabrous, 0.5-0.6 cm long including the pedicel. (After Schlechter, 1922)
Colours: Flowers light yellow.
Habitat: Terrestrial in swampy riverine forest; 20 to 40 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 431-324M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.