Macodes obscura Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 72
Type: Schlechter 19619 (holo B, lost; iso G, L)
Epiphytic, erect, 25-45 cm tall, rather stout. Rhizome short, stem-like; roots thick, cylindrical, flexuose, villose. Leaves 3-5, almost rosulate, closely spaced, erect-patent, petiolate; blade broadly elliptic or elliptic-ovate, acute with a minute apiculum, glabrous on both sides, 5-7.5 cm long, near at or below the middle 2.8-4 cm wide; petiole dilated at the base, sheathing, 1.5-2.5 cm long. Peduncle with a few small, distant, appressed scales, terete, glandulose-puberulous, rachis densely many-flowered, to 19 cm long, raceme c. 3 cm diam. across the flowers. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, less than half as long as the ovary, glandulose-puberulous. Flowers erect-patent. Sepals broadly ovate, obtuse, glandulose-puberulous, 0.8 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals about as long as the median sepal and adhering to it along their inner margins, subfalcate, linear-ligulate, obtuse, just above the base along the front margin somewhat dilated, glabrous. Lip 0.8 cm long, at the base in outline oblong-quadrangular, cucullate, inside with two papillae, in front 3-lobed; lateral lobes short, rounded, cucullate-concave, unequal sized; mid-lobe at the base shortly clawed, very broadly rhombic-spathulate, apiculate, 0.4 cm long, just below the apex 0.25 cm wide. Column glabrous, slightly twisted, below the stigma with two large, quadrate, in front truncate, lobulate wings. Anther obliquely ovate-lanceolate, acuminate. Ovary shortly pedicellate, , clavate, glandulose-puberulous, c. 1.4 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Leaves very dark green with white margins. Flowers colour not recorded.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest, growing in shaded positions; 1200 to 1300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: May, November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 425-11M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, requires shaded position.