Calanthe chrysoleuca Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 386
Type: Schlechter 18093 (holo B, lost)
Terrestrial, erect, 30 cm high, rhizome very short, roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous; leaves erect, 4, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, at the base cuneate, gradually narrowed into the petiole which is dilated and sheathing at the base, blade up to 25 cm long, near the middle 2 cm wide, petiole 5-7 cm long; Inflorescence erect, 13 cm long, terete, glabrous, covered with few large, loosely clasping, acuminate scales; raceme rather densely 15-20-flowered, cylindrical, 4 cm long; bracts caducous, elliptic, acuminate, glabrous, surpassing the flowers. Flowers soon becoming almost patent. Sepals oblong, acuminate, glabrous. Median sepal 0.8 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, 0.95 cm long. Petals obliquely elliptic, apiculate, glabrous, 0.7 cm long. Lip in outline panduriform-3-lobed, lateral lobes basal, obtusely triangular, short, mid-lobe at the base subunguiculate-narrowed, broadly obovate, in front broadly obtuse with a minute apiculum, blade of the lip in total 0.5 cm long, between the apices of the lateral lobes and below the apex of the mid-lobe 0.3 cm wide, glabrous, above the base between the lateral lobes with a double, low, oblong, obtuse, backwards-pointing callus, spur cylindrical, somewhat dilated at the apex, truncate-broadly obtuse, glabrous, 0.4 cm long. Column glabrous, dilated towards the apex, 0.35 cm long, auricles triangular, apiculate, short. Anther reniform-cucullate, apiculate. Ovary with pedicel clavate, glabrous, 0.4 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flower golden yellow, petals lighter, frontal lobe of lip white.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lower montane forest. Altitude 1000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: Not known
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 101-73M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, keep in shade.