Platanthera arfakensis Renz, J. Orchid Soc. India 1, 1-2 (1987) 25
Type: Sleumer & Vink 14162 (holo L)
Plants to 40 cm high, the stem without true leaves. A few leaves arise from the base of the rootstock. A study of the herbarium material indicates that they develop only after flowering. Peduncle-scales 5-10, sheathing, evenly spaced, clasping the stem, with somewhat spreading acuminate or acute free tips. Inflorescence densely many-flowered, narrowly cylindrical, up to 10 cm long and 1 cm broad. Ovary glabrous, twisted, c. 0.9 cm long. Flowers small, glabrous. Floral bracts lanceolate, about equalling the ovary in length. Median sepal broadly ovate to ovate-orbicular; obtuse, 3-nerved, to 0.35 by 0.3 cm. Lateral sepals deflexed, obliquely oblong, distinctly longer than the median sepal, subfalcate, 0.5 by 0.2 cm. Petals erect, obliquely ovate to triangular-ovate, obtuse, 2-nerved. Lip turned downwards, ligulate, entire, fleshy, flat, 3-nerved, 0.3-0.45 by 0.1-0.15 cm. Spur cylindrical, narrowed towards the tip and acute, shorter than the ovary, c. 0.6 cm long. Column very short; anther deeply emarginate, with more or less parallel thecae. Stigma transverse, slightly cushion-like. (After Renz, 1987)
Colours: Flowers greenish.
Habitat: Terrestrial in more or less swampy, sometimes fire-induced, heath-like vegetation; 2400 to 2650 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 556-20M.JPG.