Calymmanthera filiformis (J.J.Sm.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 956
Basionym: Chamaeanthus filiformis
Stem 7.5 cm long, c. 12-leaved, internodes 0.35-0.5 cm long. Leaves patent, linear-ligulate, narrowed towards the apex, mostly unequally 3-dentate, above on either side of the median groove convex, 3.1-6.2 by 0.38-0.6 cm; sheaths tubular, 0.2 cm wide, at the apex in front with a membranous, lacerate appendage. Inflorescences puncturing the sheath dorsally near the base, 2-3 above each other, laxly branched, laxly many-flowered, 3-8 cm long, peduncle filiform, 0.55-1.3 cm long; branches to c. 3, patent, filiform, to c. 10-flowered, to 3 cm long. Floral bracts very small, ovate, concave, 0.05-0.06 cm long. Flowers very small, very thin-textured. Median sepal at the base dilated, gradually long linear-acuminate, slightly recurved in the apical part, rather acute, especially at the base concave, 1-nerved, 0.43 by 0.07-0.08 cm. Lateral sepals at the base narrowly triangular, long linear-acuminate, oblique, concave, in the apical part with incurved margins, channelled, 1-nerved, almost 0.4 cm long, 0.1 cm wide. Petals at the base lanceolate, long linear-acuminate, concave, channelled above, 1-nerved, 0.38 by 0.06 cm. Lip mobile, straight, 3-lobed, 3-nerved, when flattened 0.17 by 0.13 cm, inside between the lateral lobes with two small longitudinal, convex keels separated by a groove; lateral lobes basal, erect, broadly triangular, falcate, incurved, when flattened obliquely rounded-quadrangular, front margins in front of the mid-lobe connected; mid-lobe porrect, narrowly triangular, at the apex laterally compressed, obtuse, channelled except at the apex. Column short, obtuse, 0.05 cm long. Anther cucullate, 0.07 cm wide, bilobed, apiculate, dorsally with a large, much broader, thin, quadrangular, truncate appendage. Pollinia strongly unequal, united into two subglobose bodies. Stigma longitudinal, narrow. Column-foot making a straight angle with the ovary, almost straight, 0.05 cm long. Ovary 6-grooved, 0.13-0.15 cm long. (After Smith, 1916).
Colours: Flower white with light yellow tips.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude 25-375 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, July, October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 109-1M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.