Calanthe stenophylla Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 388
Type: Schlechter 18061 (holo B, lost)
Terrestrial, erect, up to 50 cm high; rhizome very short, roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous; leaves erect-patent or suberect, 7-9, linear, acuminate, above the base somewhat narrowed, up to 60 cm long, near the middle 1.5-2 cm wide; Inflorescence erect, terete, glabrous, with a few distant, clasping, acuminate, glabrous scales, up to 30 cm long; rachis rather laxly several- to many-flowered, 5 cm long; bracts caducous. Flowers patent, slender pedicellate. Sepals elliptic-oblong, apiculate, glabrous, almost 1.1 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, somewhat narrower than the median sepal. Petals broadly elliptic, obtuse, oblique, 1 cm long, near the middle 0.65 cm wide; blade of the lip 3-lobed, glabrous, smooth, 0.6 cm long, between the apices of the lateral lobes 0.5 cm wide, lateral lobes basal, obliquely ovate-falcate, narrowly obtuse, very small, mid-lobe cuneate; in front truncate with a minute apiculum, several times larger than the lateral lobes, spur straight, filiform-cylindrical, narrowly obtuse, glabrous, 2 cm long. Column glabrous, towards the apex somewhat dilated, 0.6 cm long, in front obliquely truncate, auricles insignificant, clinandrium 3-lobulate, lateral lobes apiculate. Anther ovate-cucullate, obtuse, glabrous, with an ovate umbo; pollinia unequal-sized, obliquely clavate. Ovary with pedicel slender clavate, 1.7 cm long, glabrous. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flower white, lateral lobes of the lip yellow.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lower montane forest. Altitude 1000-1700 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 101-317M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, keep in shade.