Malaxis graminifolia (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 80
Basionym: Microstylis graminifolia
Terrestrial, erect, slender, 10-27 cm high. Rhizome short, stem-like; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Stem short, densely 4-7-leaved, terete, glabrous. Leaves erect-patent or suberect, linear, acute, somewhat dilated at the base, clasping the stem, 4-11 cm long, near the middle 0.2-0.45 cm wide. Inflorescence erect, with a few small, distant, bract-like scales, more or less surpassing the leaves, sometimes twice as long; rachis densely many-flowered, elongated, up to 13 cm long. Floral bracts deflexed, lanceolate, acute, almost twice as long as the ovary. Flowers pendent, glabrous. Sepals oblong, obtuse, 0.35 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely obovate-spathulate, obtuse, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip in outline hastate-ovate, indistinctly 5-angular, 0.3 cm long [excluding the auricles], at the base 0.35 cm wide, apex pointed, subobtuse, inside above the middle with two very small, in front forceps-like incurved lamellae; auricles obliquely triangular obtuse, 0.1 cm long. Column relatively slender; stelidia prolonged, obliquely oblong. Anther oblong-cucullate, broadly obtuse. Ovary with pedicel cylindrical, glabrous, 6-ribbed, 0.3 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest; 450 to 550 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, May.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 431-156M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.