Ceratostylis sphaerocephala Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58 (1922) 71
Type: Ledermann 11237 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect, tufted, 30-40 cm high. Rhizome very short. Stems elongated, cylindrical, 15-35 by 0.3 cm, base with a few overlapping, acuminate, brown sheaths, 1-leaved. Leaves erect, narrowly lanceolate-ligulate, 10-13 by 0.9 cm, acute, base narrowed into a short petiole, coriaceous, 2-4 times shorter than the stem. Inflorescences 1-flowered, arranged in a subglobose sessile head, at the base surrounded by short apiculate scales and up to 2 cm across. Peduncles short, finely pilose. Floral bract elliptic-cucullate, usually somewhat surpassing the ovary. Sepals ovate, obtuse, 0.4 cm long, outside pilose, lateral sepals in front at the base along the margin distinctly dilated; mentum semi-oblong, 0.25 cm long, obtuse. Petals narrowly and obliquely elliptic, subacute, glabrous, almost as long as the median sepal. Lip oblong, 0.6 by 0.25 cm, in the middle rhombic-dilated, at the base subunguiculate-contracted, subelliptic-orbicular, margin minutely finely ciliate, in apical third carnose-thickened, ovate-oblong, obtuse, with two minutely finely ciliate, parallel keels extending from the base of the lip to above the middle. Column short, extending to about the middle of the lip, foot average. Ovary cylindrical, subsessile, 0.6 cm long, subvillose-pilose. (After Schlechter, 1922).
Colours: Flower greyish brown with bright yellow lip.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 1300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: March.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 125-142M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.