Appendicula polystachya (Schltr.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 356
Basionym: Podochilus polystachyus
Stems erect, terete, 50 cm long, laxely many-leaved. Leaves erect-patent, narrowly oblong-lanceolate, 7-10 by 1-1.5 cm, apex obtuse. Inflorescences terminal as well as lateral, paniculate, many-branched, somewhat longer than the leaves; peduncle short. Floral bracts patent-suberect, lanceolate, about as long as the ovary, apex acuminate. Flowers c. 0.5 cm long. Dorsal sepal ovate, 0.35 cm long, apex acuminate. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, 0.35 cm by 0.3 mm, apex acuminate; mentum obtuse. Petals obliquely oblong-ligulate, a little shorter than the sepals, apex obtuse. Lip cuneate-obovate, 0.4 cm long, base concave, just above the base with a horseshoe-shaped, concave appendage which does not reach the margins, and which towards the apex terminates into two oblique obtuse lobules, apex of lip rounded, obtusely apiculate. Column very short, rostellum short, shallowly emarginate; column-foot long. Anther rounded, apex shortly 3-cuspidate. Pollinia 6, caudicles one, concave, viscidium orbicular, minute.
(After Schlechter, 1905, as Podochilus polystachyus ['polystachius']).
Colours: Sepals and petals green, lip white, column violet.
Habitat: Epiphyte in hill forest. Altitude 400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, March, April, June, July, October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 57-166M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte, keep in shade.
Note: An easily recognised species because of the branching inflorescence.