Spathoglottis doctersii J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 18 (1935) 18, pl. 4, fig. 6
Type: Docters van Leeuwen 10124 (holo L)
Plant small. Pseudobulbs closely spaced, 4-5-leaved, at the base covered with sheaths. Leaves lanceolate-linear, towards the apex gradually narrowed, at the base gradually narrowed into the petiole, above and below with prominent nerves, glabrous, when dried firmly papyraceous, 17-38.5 cm long, 0.85-1.9 cm, wide; petiole and leaf-sheath articulated, channelled, ribbed, 2-12 cm long, the sheath ribbed, 5-8 cm long. Inflorescence laxly several-flowered; peduncle glabrous, 30-50 cm long, with c. 5 tubular peduncle-scales; rachis flexuose, glabrous, 8 cm long. Floral bracts very small, patent, clasping the pedicel, concave, suborbicular, glabrous, 0.85 by 0.75 cm. Flowers turned to all sides, glabrous. Median sepal oblong, at the apex contracted, obtuse, c. 7-nerved, almost 2.1 cm long, 0.83 cm wide. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong-elliptic, obtuse, 7-nerved, 1.8 by 0.8 cm. Petals obliquely oblong-elliptic, obtuse, 3-nerved, with the outer nerves branched, about 2 by 0.85 cm. Lip 3-lobed, when flattened 1.25 by 1.65-1.8 cm; lateral lobes obliquely oblong-subspathulate, falcate-incurved, gradually dilated towards the apex, obtuse, 0.75-0.8 cm long, in the apical part 0.36-0.38 cm wide; mid-lobe 5-nerved, at the base very shortly contracted, in outline ovate, in apical 2/5 contracted, rounded or emarginate, 0.95 cm long, in the basal part 0.5-0.54 cm wide, contracted part 0.3-0.33 cm long, almost 0.4-0.36 cm wide, at the base on either side of the basal callus with nodding hairs, basal callus glabrous, deeply divided into two obliquely quadrangular, towards the apex gradually somewhat dilated lobes. Column slightly curved, winged, the wings gradually dilated towards the apex, a little more than 1 cm long; clinandrium cucullate, at the apex incurved, foot short. Rostellum at the base dilated, contracted above, obtuse. Ovary pedicellate, glabrous, 2.6 cm long. (After Smith, 1935)
Colours: Flowers outside bright violet, inside light violet; lip and column bright violet, lip at the base yellow and white.
Habitat: Terrestrial among stones on riverbank and near waterfalls in the forest; 175 to 250 m.
Flowering time in the wild: August, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 652-16M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires light position.