Malaxis verruculosa (J.J.Sm.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 85
Basionym: Microstylis verruculosa
Rhizome 4-7.5 cm long. Pseudobulbs closely spaced, probably carnose, 3-5 cm long, 4-5-leaved. Leaves erect-patent, oblique, more or less ovate-elliptic, gradually long acuminate with acute tip, 4.5-12 by 1-2.7 cm, at the base obliquely contracted into the petiole, underneath with c. 5 prominent nerves, when dried membranous; petiole channelled, including the sheath 2-3 cm long. Inflorescence laxly many-flowered, peduncle 9.5-11 cm long, with 1-2 small bract-like scales; rachis narrowly winged, more than 22 cm long. Floral bracts reflexed, subulate, to 0.4-0.5 cm long. Flowers 0.8 cm long, 0.6 cm wide. Median sepal pointing downwards, strongly convex, sometimes with a concave spot near the apex, narrowly oblong, 0.53 by 0.17 cm, obtuse, 3-nerved. Lateral sepals divergent, making an obtuse angle, strongly convex, sometimes with the upper part strongly concave, obliquely oblong, slightly falcate, 0.43 by almost 0.2 cm, obtuse, 3-nerved. Petals decurved above the angular-incurved base, divergent, convex, obliquely linear, almost 0.5 cm long, 0.08 cm wide, obtuse, retuse, 1-nerved. Lip horseshoe-shaped, at the apex 3-lobed with somewhat incurved margins; pit longitudinal, deeply concave, dorsally convex, oblong, surrounded by a horseshoe-shaped, broad, convex, minutely verruculose-papillose, dorsally concave depression, at the base with a transverse, equilaterally trapezium-shaped, retuse lamella that is appressed to the column; when flattened in outline without the mid-lobe quadrangular, including the mid-lobe 5-angled, in total 0.53 cm long, without the auricles 0.35 cm long, 0.43 cm wide; mid-lobe distinctly surpassing the lateral lobes, triangular, 0.08 by 0.13 cm, with slightly incurved margins, slightly thickened, at the apex very minutely bidentate; lateral lobes slightly produced, rounded, very shortly acute, 3-dentate mostly with an additional minute obtuse lobule, making an obtuse angle with the mid-lobe; basal auricles distant, divergent, with parallel outer margins, obliquely triangular, narrowly obtuse. Column making an obtuse angle with the ovary, rather large, dorsally compressed, oblong-quadrangular, at the apex somewhat dilated, the sides concave, 0.17 cm long; wings divergent, oblong, truncate, vertical. Anther flat-cucullate, transversely 6-angular-reniform, at the apex truncate, 0.07 cm wide. Pollinia 4, united into two obliquely obovate, dorsally compressed bodies, 0.05 cm long, with a very indistinct viscidium. Rostellum with short but distinct auricles, triangular-bilobulate. Ovary 0.2 cm long, including the 0.5 cm long pedicel conspicuously 6-ribbed. Fruit erect, in immature state 1.4 cm long with the pedicel 0.7 cm long. (After Smith, 1935)
Colours: Flowers green.
Habitat: Terrestrial in montane forest; 1500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 431-454M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.