Calanthe cremeoviridis J.J.Wood, Orchid Rev. 89 (1981) 210, fig. 180, fig.
Type: Sands, Pattison, Wood & Croft 1782 (holo K)
An erect terrestrial herb to 1 m high. Rhizome short, creeping, 3 by 0.5 cm, with 2-3 narrowly ovate, 3cm long sheaths. Roots numerous, tomentose-lanuginose, to 20 by 0.5 cm. Leaves 3-6, basal; petioles sheathing towards the base, prominently nerved, to 20 cm long; blade narrowly elliptic, basally cuneate, acute, glabrous, thin-textured, margin entire or gently undulate, 28-48 by 4-10 cm. Peduncle including the inflorescence rachis to 87 cm high, arising from the axils of the outermost leaves, very finely pubescent, sterile bracts 3-4, very finely pubescent, lowermost ovate, obtuse, amplexicaul, to 3.8 cm long, uppermost acute, non-amplexicaul, to 1.8 cm long. Inflorescence up to 35-flowered, dense, 18-30 by 7 cm. Floral bracts narrowly ovate, acute, very finely pubescent, solitary or paired, 1 by 1.8 cm. Flowers solitary or paired, borne all around the stem, strongly scented at night. Pedicellate ovary clavate, minutely puberulous, 2.6-3.2 cm long. Tepals curved, strongly reflexed, glabrous. Median sepal oblanceolate, acute to acuminate, 1.6-1.8 by 0.45-0.5 cm. Lateral sepals slightly obliquely-oblanceolate, obtuse to acuminate, 1.6-1.8 by 0.5-0.55 cm. Petals linear ligulate to narrowly oblanceolate-spathulate, acute, 1.6-1.7 by 0.2-0.3 cm. Lip 3-lobed, 1-1.2 by 1.6-2 cm (width measured across lateral lobes); mid-lobe recurved, bilobulate, 0.3-0.5 cm long, lobules oblong, truncate to acute, with a small recurved mucro in the sinus; lateral lobes divaricate to somewhat deflexed, oblique, broadly or subfalcate-oblong, truncate or cuneate at base, obtuse, 0.7-1 by 0.6-0.7 cm; callus consisting of three convoluted, fleshy median keels and usually two much shorter lateral keels, periphery of disc somewhat rugose; spur horizontal to gently upturned, adnate to column at base, cylindrical, obtuse, sparsely puberulous, free part 1.3-1.6 cm long. Column straight or slightly curved distally, with short truncate wings, 0.9-1 by 0.3 cm. Anther ovate, retuse at base, 0.2 by 0.2 cm; pollinia clavate or oblong, 0.05-0.1 cm long. (After Wood, 1981).
Colours: Leaves dull, dark green above, paler greyish-green below. Tepals and spur yellowish-green to lime green, lip and callus much paler yellowish cream or greenish-cream, column pale yellowish-cream distally, anther cap greenish cream or cream
Habitat: Terrestrial in upper montane forest in shaded positions. Altitude 1600-3300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 101-85M.JPG
Cultivation: Cool growing terrestrial, keep in shade.