Nervilia pallidiflora Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 40
Type: Schlechter 18473 (holo B, lost)
Terrestrial, erect, very small, 8-16 cm high. Tuber globose. Leaf petiolate; blade reniform-cordate, apiculate, slightly angular, glabrous on both sides, 2.5-3.5 cm long, below the middle 3.2-4 cm wide, petiole grooved above, 2-3 cm long. Inflorescence straight or nearly so, terete, glabrous. with 3 distant, long-clasping, subobtuse or apiculate sheaths, 1-flowered. Floral bracts erect, lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, at anthesis as long as or slightly longer than the ovary. Flowers pendent. Sepals lanceolate-ligulate, acute, glabrous, 1.5 cm long; lateral sepals oblique. Petals similar to the sepals, at that the base slightly narrowed, subobtuse, 1.4 cm long, oblique. Lip at the base oblong, above the middle 3-lobed, 1.4 cm long, between the apices of the lateral lobes 0.4 cm wide, with two puberulous keels extending from the base to the apex, the keels narrowed towards the base, decurrent near the apex, merging in the middle of the mid-lobe; lateral lobes subporrect, tooth-like-triangular, subacute; mid-lobe much larger, lanceolate-rhombic, subacute, 0.8 cm long, near the middle 0.35 cm wide. Column very small, semiterete, in the middle somewhat narrowed, in front very minutely puberulous, 0.5 cm long. Anther subreniform-cucullate, glabrous. Ovary clavate, weakly 6-ribbed, glabrous, including the pedicel 0.7 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers greenish white, lip white.
Habitat: Terrestrial in moist lowland forest; 250 m.
Flowering time in the wild: October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 479-59M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.
Notes: Doubtfuly distinct from Nervilia punctata (Blme) Makino.