Habenaria notabilis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 15
Type: Schlechter 18556 (holo B, lost)
Terrestrial, erect, robust, simple, about 130 cm tall. Roots elongated, flexuose, villose. Stem straight, robust, leafy, except for the base which is covered with sheaths only, terete, glabrous, about 1 cm across. Leaves erect-patent, lanceolate-ligulate, acuminate, glabrous, up to 30 cm long, near the middle up to 4.5 cm broad, higher ones gradually passing into bracts. Inflorescence densely many-flowered, rachis about 20 cm long, across the flowers 3.5 cm wide. Floral bracts erect-patent, lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, as long as the flowers. Flowers very small for the section, erect-patent, glabrous. Sepals ovate, subacute, 9.5 mm long, the lateral sepals oblique, deflexed. Petals bi-partite, with the posterior partition falcate-lanceolate, narrowly obtuse, as long as the median sepal, anterior partition decurved, linear, in front irregularly split into 3-4 awn-like processes, about as long as the posterior partition. Labellum 3-lobed above the base, spurred, 1.3 cm long, lateral lobes linear in basal part, dilated towards the apex, irregularly split into 7-10 digitate partitions, about 1 cm long; mid-lobe linear, narrowly obtuse, entire, about 1.2 cm long; spur pendulous, cylindrical, obtuse, about 1.3 cm long. Anther in front emarginate, anther channels porrect, of median length; rostellum transverse, low, triangular; stigmatophores almost twice surpassing the anther channels, staminodes rounded, irregularly lobulate. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, about 1.6 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).
Colours: Flower green, petals and lip yellowish.
Habitat: Terrestrial in leaf-litter in lower montane forest. Altitude 1300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 347-411M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, keep in shade.