Calanthe spathoglottoides Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 384
Type: Schlechter 19062 (holo B, lost)
Terrestrial, erect, 20-35 cm high; rhizome very short, roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous; leaves 3-4 erect-patent, elliptic, acuminate, at the base cuneate, narrowed into the petiole which is dilated and clasping at the base, on either side softly and shortly puberulous, blade up to 15 cm long, near the middle up to 5.5 cm wide, petiole 3-6 cm long; Inflorescence erect, terete, covered with few, distant, acuminate, minutely puberulous scales; rachis laxly 4-7-flowered, up to 8 cm long; bracts lanceolate, acuminate, minutely puberulous, almost 3 times shorter than the pedicellate ovary. Flowers erect-patent. Sepals oblong, 1.5 cm long, glabrous. Median sepal narrowly obtuse. Lateral sepals oblique, acutely apiculate. Petals obliquely elliptic, narrowly obtuse, glabrous, 1.35 cm long. Lip as long as the petals, at the base clawed, 3-lobed, lateral lobes basal, very small, obliquely oblong, obtuse, divergent, 0.15 cm long, mid-lobe above the narrow base cuneate, in front shortly and obtusely bilobulate with an apiculum between the lobules, 0.9 cm long, below the apex 0.7 cm wide, at the base of the lip-blade with a double callus, in front of this with 3 verruculose lines, spur curved upwards; cylindrical, somewhat widened towards the apex, obtuse, sparsely and minutely puberulous, 1.2 cm long. Column short, towards the apex dilated, 0.35 cm long, glabrous, auricles short, rounded. Anther broadly ovate-cordate, apiculate, glabrous, with a triangular-reniform umbo. Ovary with pedicel clavate, densely and very minutely puberulous, 1.8 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flower violet-red, lip with golden-yellow callus, column white.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lower montane forest. Altitude 1300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 101-314M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, keep in shade.