Peristylus macer (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 26 (1971) 177
Basionym: Habenaria macra
Terrestrial, erect, very slender, 25-50 cm high; roots elongated, flexuose, pilose. Stem more or less flexuose, terete, glabrous, near the middle with 2-3 closely spaced leaves, otherwise covered with distant sheaths. Leaves erect-patent, lanceolate-elliptic or broadly elliptic, acuminate, with lightly undulate margins, glabrous, 7-11 by 2-5.5 cm; Peduncle with bract-like scales; rachis often somewhat curved, laxly 10-20-flowered, secund. Floral bracts erect, lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, distinctly shorter than the ovary. Flowers glabrous. Median sepal broadly ovate, obtuse, concave, about 0.2 cm long. Lateral sepals deflexed, falcate-elliptic, apiculate, as long as the median sepal. Petals obliquely elliptic-rhombic, obtuse, about as long as the sepals. Lip as long as the petals, 3-lobed to below the middle; lateral lobes falcate-ligulate, subobtuse; mid-lobe triangular, obtuse, a little shorter than the lateral lobes; at the mouth of the spur with two rounded swellings; spur cylindrical, incurved, apex subobtuse, about 0.2 cm long. Rostellum very low; stigmatophores terete, porrect, as long as the staminodes, but the stigmatophores twice as wide. Anther at the apex emarginate, with very short falcate-erect anther channels. Ovary rostrate, c. 0.6 cm long, glabrous. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers green.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lower montane grassland on mossy limestone; 1200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 542-89M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires light position.