Cheirostylis grandiflora Blume, Fl. Javae, n.s., 1 (1858) 45, pl. 13 f. 3, pl. 17 C; Coll. Orchid. (1858
Type: Zippelius s.n. (New Guinea) (holo L)
Stems creeping in the leafless basal part, leafy part relatively short, erect, creeping part very fleshy, constricted at the nodes, forming a row of depressed-ovoid internodes, 6-8 cm long, c. 4-leaved. Leaves petiolate, ovate, 1.4-2.3 by 0.8-1.6 cm, with 3-5 main veins and many cross-veins, apex acute; petiole 0.8-1.6 cm long. Inflorescence racemose, c. 15 cm long, glandulose pubescent, peduncle-scales two, distant, tubular, acuminate, rachis relatively short, 1-5-flowered. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, shorter than the ovary, apex acuminate. Sepals connate to beyond the middle, outside glandulose pubescent, free parts broadly ovate, subacute. Petals linear, falcate, adhering to the median sepal, apex obtuse. Lip patent, c. 1 cm long; hypochile saccate, channelled, adnate to the column, upper margins below the epichile curved inwards, inside along the lateral vein on each side with 4 uncinate, hair-like papillae; epichile dilated, bilobed, minutely papillose, at the base with two swollen spots, lobes cuneate, along the apical margin with 5-6(-7) large acute teeth. (After Blume, 1858).
Colours: Leaves brownish green tinged purple above, pale purple underneath. Sepals pinkish red, lip white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 131-13M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte, prefers humus-rich compost and light shade.