Malaxis apollinis P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 78
Basionym: Microstylis heliophila
Terrestrial, erect, very small, 6-13 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Stem very short, rather thick, 3-4-leaved. Leaves erect-patent or suberect, elliptic, acute, at the base gradually weakly petiolate-narrowed, at the very sheathing at the base, 1.2-4 cm long, near the middle 0.6-1.5 cm wide. Inflorescence straight, slender, usually without scales, subangular, glabrous; rachis laxly 4-17-flowered, up to 6.5 cm long. Floral bracts deflexed, lanceolate, acuminate, twice or more than twice as long as the ovary. Flowers patent, not resupinate, glabrous. Sepals oblong, obtuse. Median 0.35 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, a little shorter and broader than the median sepal. Petals obliquely linear-ligulate, obtuse, almost as long as the lateral sepals. Lip in outline suborbicular, sagittate, in apical third 3-lobed, 0.3 cm long, between the apices of the lateral lobes 0.35 cm wide; lateral lobes split into three triangular, acute, subfalcate teeth, the outer teeth a little shorter than the inner ones; mid-lobe semiorbicular, as long as the inner teeth of the lateral lobes, minutely trilobulate, lip with a horseshoe-shaped, hollowed callus decurrent from the base of the lip to the base of the mid-lobe; auricles falcate-triangular, obtuse, c. 0.15 cm long. Column very short, rather thick. Ovary slender, pedicellate, , with subclavate pedicel, 6-ribbed, glabrous, c. 0.5 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Whole plant deep violet-green. Flowers rose-red.
Habitat: Terrestrial in full sun on open slopes in loamy soil; 1200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 431-25M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires light position.