Calanthe torricellensis Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 144
Type: Schlechter 14498 (holo B, lost)
Rhizome short, roots elliptic, filiform, flexuose, shortly villose, later becoming glabrous. Stem 3-5-leaved. Leaves erect-patent, petiolate; petiole 5-7 cm long, slender; blade ovate-elliptic, 12-16 by 4.5-6 cm, plicate, apex acuminate. Inflorescences racemose, erect, 40 cm long, slender, terete, glabrous, peduncle-scales distant, acuminate, rather laxly ca. 6-flowered. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, shorter than the ovary, apex acuminate. Pedicel and ovary 1 cm long, clavate. Dorsal sepal ovate-oblong, 0.8 cm long. Lateral sepals patent, obliquely ovate-oblong, 1 cm long, apex shortly apiculate. Petals patent, obliquely obovate-spathulate, 1 cm long, apex shortly apiculate. Lip 3-lobed, 1.3 by 1.7 cm, spurred, with 3 ridges in front of the mouth of the spur; lateral lobes obliquely rectangular-cuneate, obtuse, truncate; mid-lobe bilobulate, lobules oblong-falcate, obtuse, narrower than the lateral lobes; spur cylindric, 0.8 cm long, obtuse. Column short, much widened to the apex. Anther rounded, in front truncate-umbonate.
(After Schlechter, 1905).
Colours: Flower pure white.
Habitat: Terrestrial in leaf-litter in lower montane forest. Altitude 800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 101-340M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, keep in shade.