Ceratostylis pinguis Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58 (1922) 72
Type: Ledermann 11095 (holo B, lost); para: Ledermann 8434; 8474
Epiphytic, erect, caespitose, 17-25 cm high. Rhizome very short. Stems terete, relatively thick, 9-15 by 0.25-0.3 cm, 1-leaved, at the base with a few pale brown, acuminate sheaths. Leaves erect, narrowly ligulate, 7-8 by 0.55-0.7 cm, rather obtuse, pointed, rather thick, base folded-attenuate. Floral head very small, about 0.8 cm across, elliptic, surrounded by short, apiculate scales. Inflorescences 1-flowered, very shortly pedunculate. Flowers outside finely pilose. Sepals lanceolate-oblong, 0.3 cm long, subacute, lateral sepals oblique, at the base along the front margin elongated and connate into an obovoid, obtuse, 0.85 cm long sac. Petals narrowly and obliquely lanceolate-linear, subacute, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip ligulate, 0.4 cm long, dilated in the middle, apical third carnose-thickened, at the apex rather obtuse, with two thin, parallel keels extending from the base to near the middle. Column semiterete, glabrous, about three times shorter than the lip, stigma-arms elliptic, obtuse, foot short. Ovary shortly pedicellate, clavate, 0.28 cm long, densely white-pilose. (After Schlechter, 1922).
Colours: Flower pale reddish yellow, outside with white hairs.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 1350 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 125-112M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.