Peristylus nanus (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 26 (1971) 177
Basionym: Habenaria nana
Terrestrial, erect, dwarfed, 5-15 cm high; tuber oblongoid; roots elongated, flexuose, shortly pilose. Stem very short, 2-leaved at the base. Leaves patent or erect-patent, elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, acute or shortly acuminate, glabrous on both sides, 0.7-1.8 by 0.4-1.2 cm. Peduncle with distant, lanceolate, acuminate, clasping scales, terete, glabrous; rachis rather laxly few- to 10-flowered, subsecund, erect. Floral bracts lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, erect, longer or shorter than the ovary. Flowers glabrous. Median sepal ovate, obtuse, glabrous, 0.3 cm long. Lateral sepals deflexed, obliquely ovate-elliptic, obtuse, as long as the median sepal. Petals obliquely rhombic-elliptic, obtuse, as long as the median sepal. Lip in outline rhombic-elliptic, 0.3 cm long, 3-lobed to the middle; the lateral lobes small, triangular, obtuse; mid-lobe much larger, triangular-ovate, obtuse; spur deflexed, cylindrical, towards the apex subclavate-dilated, obtuse, 0.5 cm long. Rostellum transverse, triangular, obtuse, low; stigmatophores clavate, shorter than the anther channels. Anther at the apex slightly 3-lobulate, anther channels average sized. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, c. 0.9 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers green.
Habitat: On rocks on open slopes in lower montane forest; 1100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 542-99M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires light position.