Microtatorchis papuana (Schltr.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 9 (1911) 112
Basionym: Geissanthera papuana
Epiphytic, stemless or almost so, up to 8 cm high. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Leaves oblong-ligulate, with aristate apex, somewhat narrowed towards the base, glabrous, thin-textured, 1-1.5 cm long, in apical half 0.3-0.5 cm wide. Inflorescence lateral, elongated, distichous, laxly 8-20 flowered. At the base of the floral bracts on either side with two bristle-like appendages; floral bracts similar to the leaf, thin-textured, with undulate-crispate margins, aristate-apiculate, as long as the flowers or slightly longer. Flowers erect-patent. Sepals lanceolate, strongly acuminate, glabrous, 0.6 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals similar to the sepals and about equally long, oblique. Lip concave, in outline lanceolate, glabrous, 0.6 cm long, acuminate, towards the apex somewhat fleshy, margins incurved, forming a triangular lobule on either side; spur ovate-inflated, obtuse, 0.3 cm long. Column short, footless; clinandrium large, with two arms, stelidia hollowed, oblong, covering the anther; rostellum prolonged. Anther cordate, beak-like elongated. Pollinia subglobose, stipe slender, towards the apex rhomboid-dilated; viscidium oblong, almost as large as the pollinia. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, c. 0.5 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1905)
Colours: Flowers green.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 1850 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 449-35M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.