Mediocalcar subteres Schuit., Blumea 34 (1989) 171, fig. 2
Type: NGF (Kairo) 44083 (holo LAE; iso AMES, BO, K, L, SING)
Roots densely covered with very short root hairs, 0.5 mm thick. Rhizome creeping, sparsely to rather frequently branching, 2 mm thick. Cataphylls 5, closely appressed, tubular, glabrous, subacute, keeled near the tips. Pseudobulbs approximate, terete, (8-)15-25(-35) mm long, 2.5-3.5 mm across, largely enveloping the rhizome, free top ascending, 3-7 mm long. Leaves one, occasionally two per pseudobulb, sessile, subterete, straight, channelled above, (1.5-)3-5(-7) cm by 2-3 mm; margins entire; apex acute, mucronate. Inflorescences solitary, synanthous, at the base with a narrow scale c. 3 mm long. Peduncle 5-15 mm long, at the apex with a triangular, acute bract 1 mm long. Pedicel and ovary 7-10 mm long. Flowers urceolate, oblique, laterally flattened, 8-9 mm long. Synsepalum 8-9 mm long and 11-16 mm wide when cut open and flattened; free tips hardly spreading, 3-3.5 mm long, acute. Petals oblanceolate (index 5.5-6.5), 5.5-6.5 by c. 1 mm; apex acute; 1- or 3-nerved. Lip 6.5-7 mm long, c. 3 mm wide in natural position, the blade broadly ovate when flattened; claw 2 by 1.5 mm, auricles rather conspicuous, reflexed; apex acute; margins erect, clasping the column; spur broadly cylindrical, c. 2.5 mm long, c. 2 mm wide just below the mouth. Column clavate, 3-4 mm long, c. 2 mm wide at the apex, foot very short. Fruit not seen. (After Schuiteman, 1997)
Colours: Flowers bright yellow or orange-yellow, sometimes red at the base. Ovary bright greenish yellow. Leaves dull green, pseudobulbs yellow-green.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 1200-1850 m.
Flowering time in the wild: March, July, August, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 436-51M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte, requires light position.
Notes: An unmistakable species because of its subterete leaves. The yellow flowers are exceptional in the genus, in other species these are reported only as very rare colour morphs.