Appendicula cleistogama Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 338
Type: Schlechter 16479 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BO, E, K)
Epiphytic, erect or patent, up to 50 cm long; rhizome very short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous; stems unbranched, more or less flexuose, terete, glabrous, densely leafy, entirely covered by the leaf-sheaths; leaves patent, oblong-elliptic, unequally, bilobulate, glabrous, 1.3-2 cm long, near the middle 0.7-1 cm wide. Inflorescences lateral, very short, 2-4-flowered, several times shorter than the leaves; bracts oblong, apiculate, usually as long as the ovary, sometimes longer. Flowers glabrous, cleistogamous. Sepals ovate-oblong, obtuse, 0.2 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, at the base dilated along the front margin; mentum short, obtuse. Petals obliquely oblong, obtuse, distinctly smaller than the sepals. Lip suborbicular, concave at the base, with a short, transverse, semiquadrate lamella, at the apex with a large, lobe-like apiculum which is decurrent on the blade, 0.2 cm long. Column short, dilated towards the apex, foot distinct, clinandrium 3-lobed, without rostellum. Anther ovate-cucullate, narrowly obtuse; pollinia obliquely clavate, at the base beak-like elongated. Ovary subsessile, clavate, glabrous, 0.2 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flower white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest in shaded positions. Altitude 300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 57-38M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte, keep in shade.