Microtatorchis perpusilla Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 224
Type: Schlechter 14401 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, very small, glabrous, virtually stemless; roots filiform, flexuose, glabrous, somewhat flattened, up to 5 cm long, c. 0.1 cm wide. Stem almost lacking. Leaves usually reduced to minute scales, sometimes developed, oblanceolate-spathulate, shortly acuminate, 0.6-1 cm long, above the middle 0.2-0.3 cm wide. Inflorescences shortly pedunculate, distichous, elongated, 5- to 20-flowered. Floral bracts minute, patent, ovate-triangular, a little shorter than the ovary. Flowers very small. Sepals narrowly oblong-ligulate, obtuse, highly connate, c. 0.15 [‘1.5’] cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals similar to the sepals and about as large, obtuse, highly adnate to the sepals. Lip highly adnate to the sepals, linear-oblong, obtuse, at the apex inside with an abruptly backwards curved tooth-like appendage, at the base with two minute auricles; spur at the base cylindrical, subglobose inflated, 0.05 cm long. Column very short, rostellum rather short, ascending. Anther rounded, obtusely rostrate; pollinia obliquely oblong; stipe broadly linear, as long as the pollinia. Ovary clavate, subpedicellate, , glabrous, 0.1 cm long. Fruit obliquely oblong, 0.4 cm long, near the middle 0.3 cm diam. (After Schlechter, 1905)
Colours: Flowers greenish yellow.
Habitat: Epiphyte on shrubs along small streams in lowland forest; 200 to 500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, August.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 449-36M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.