Hymenorchis kaniensis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 996
Type: Schlechter 17744; 17968 (B, lost)
Epiphyte, small, erect, 2-4 cm high; roots filiform, glabrous; stem short, densely leafy, 0.2 cm diameter, covered with rugulose leaf-sheaths with fimbriate-lacerate margins; leaves patent, oblong, apiculate, margins serrate, 1-2.5 cm long, near the middle 0.5-0.9 cm wide; Inflorescence short-umbelliform, 4-7-flowered, shorter than the leaves; peduncle very short, with a few peduncle-scales; bracts ovate, acuminate, dentate, shorter than the ovary. Flowers erect-patent, thin, glabrous. Sepals oblong, broadly obtuse with a minute apiculum, keeled, margin serrate, 0.8 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, somewhat narrowed towards the base. Petals similar to the sepals, oblique, 0.7 cm long, margin serrate. Lip elliptic, apiculate, 0.2 cm long, spur obovoid, 0.45 cm long, broadly obtuse, compressed in front, with a few-dentate longitudinal keel. Column short, rostellum suberect, bifid. Anther quadrate-cucullate, shortly acuminate; pollinia globose, stipe linear, somewhat dilated towards the base, almost 4 times longer than the pollinia, viscidium large, oblong. Ovary acute, triangular, edges serrulate, 0.8 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flower whitish, blade of lip green.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 1000-1100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: May, July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 375-5M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.