Peristylus papuanus (Kraenzl.) J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 12, 1 (1913) 3
Basionym: Habenaria papuana
Plant slender, to 40 cm high. Stem in the basal part laxly covered with distant sheaths. Leaves crowded near the middle of the plant, at the base with large sheaths, almost petiolate, linear-lanceolate, 10-11 by 1.8-2 cm, acuminate. Inflorescence very slender, laxly few- [to many-]flowered. Floral bracts at the base ovate, acuminate to aristate, about half as long as the ovary. Flowers about 0.3 cm diam. Median sepal ovate-oblong, obtuse; lateral sepals deflexed, larger, oblong, obtuse, suboblique. Petals ovate, obtuse, as long as the median sepals. Lip 3-lobed, at the base entire, linear, lobes linear; lateral lobes three times as long as the mid-lobe, very narrow, twisted at anthesis; mid-lobe broader, obtuse; spur 0.7-0.8 cm long, at the base filiform, clavate, acute, about half as long as the ovary. Anther channels a little longer than the stigmatic processes, slightly uncinate. Ovaries about 1 cm long or slightly longer, curved, rostrate. (After Kraenzlin, 1892)
Colours: Flowers green.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland and montane forest; 80 to 2600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, March, April, May, July, September, October.
Distribution: Malesia (Moluccas, New Guinea), Fiji, Samoa.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 542-116M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.