Brachypeza indusiata (Rchb.f.) Garay, Bot. Mus. Leafl. 23, 4 (1972) 164
Basionym: Thrixspermum indusiatum
Stem very short, c. 5-leaved. Leaves patent, oblong-ligulate, thickly carnose, 21 by 6 cm, apex broad, unequally 2-lobed, lobes rounded, mid-rib deeply grooved above, underneath obtusely prominent; sheaths short, laterally compressed, carnose. Inflorescence arising from a lower axil, patent or bent downwards, densely many-flowered, 24 cm long. Peduncle terete 19 cm long, 0.15 cm diam., with a few very small scales; rachis thickened, angular, 4-5 cm long, 0.3 cm thick. Floral bracts very small, triangular, acute, concave, carnose, 0.2 cm long. Flowers single or in pairs, arising at intervals, when flattened 1.9 cm wide, ephemeral. Sepals oblong, obtuse, concave, patent, 0.7 by 0.3-0.4 cm Petals oblong, obtuse, 0.65 by 0.25 cm. Lip mobile, attached to the column-foot, articulate, spurred, 3 lobed; spur porrect, rather large, at the mouth funnel-shaped, apex incurved and there abruptly inflated and semiglobose, spoon-shaped, 0.55 cm long, at apex 0.25 cm wide, and there with the wall very thin; lateral lobes next to the mouth of the spur erect, very small, narrowly triangular, obtuse, outside with a prominent rib; mid-lobe very short, on either side dilated into an incurved, 3-angular, obtuse lobule which is parallel with the lateral lobes. Column rather slender, somewhat curved, constricted at the base, 0.35 cm long. Column-foot short, truncate, 0.2 cm long. Anther cucullate, broad, shortly acute. Pollinia 2, base grooved, stipe short, rather broad, viscidium small. Rostellum narrowly and acutely bidentate. Stigma large, ovate. Ovary 0.9 cm long. (After Smith, 1906, as Sarcochilus keyensis J.J.Sm.).
Colours: Leaves almost shiny, green. Peduncle pale green. Sepals and petals pale yellow with a few transverse brown streaks. Lip white, lateral lobes pale yellow, mid-lobe white , inside finely striped violet. Column and anther white. Pollinia yellow.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest in shaded positions. Altitude 5-40 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, March, June.
Distribution: Malesia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 91-2M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte, keep in shade.