Malaxis fulva

Malaxis fulva (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 80

Basionym: Microstylis fulva

Terrestrial, erect, 25-40 cm tall, glabrous. Stems 5-8 cm long, 5-6-leaved, somewhat fleshy, cylindrical. Leaves erect-patent, petiolate, obliquely elliptic, 6-10 by 2-3.5 cm, somewhat obtusely acuminate, base truncate, margin slightly undulate; petiole at base distinctly dilated, sheathing, 1.5-2 cm long. Inflorescence without peduncle scales, angular, 2-3 times exceeding the upper leaves, 20-30 cm long; rachis elongated, rather densely many-flowered, erect. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, finally recurved, usually a little shorter than the pedicellate ovary. Flowers erect-patent. Sepals oblong, obtuse, the median sepal almost 0.3 cm long, the lateral sepals a little shorter, somewhat oblique, erect. Petals obliquely ligulate, 0.28 cm long, obtuse, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip at the base deeply sagittate, above the middle 3-lobed, blade 0.25 cm long, lateral lobes tridentate, with the basal tooth short, triangular, the two upper teeth lanceolate-falcate, sharply acute, almost 2-3 times longer than the basal tooth; mid-lobe semioblong, split to near the middle, the segments subacute; basal pit oblong, surrounded by an oblong thickening that extends to the base of the mid-lobe; basal auricles obliquely triangular-lanceolate, obtuse, with subparallel inner margins, 0.2 cm long. Column short, rather thick. Ovary pedicellate, clavate, sharply 6-ribbed, almost 0.4 cm long including the pedicel. (After Schlechter, 1922)

Colours: Flowers yellowish red, becoming pinkish red to carmine red when past anthesis.

Habitat: Terrestrial in swampy riverine forest; 20 to 50 m.

Flowering time in the wild: June.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 431-148M.JPG.

Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.

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