Malaxis kempfii (Schltr.) W.Kittr., Bot. Mus. Leafl. 30 (1984, publ. 1985) 96
Basionym: Microstylis kempfii
Terrestrial, erect, c. 40 cm high. Rhizome very short. Stem cylindrical, 6-7-leaved, c. 13 cm high, 0.6-0.7 cm diam. Leaves erect-patent, lanceolate-elliptic, strongly acuminate, oblique, at the base gradually narrowed into the broad, channelled, 3.5-4 cm long petiole; blade to 16 by 4.3 cm. Inflorescence straight, angular, up to 25 cm long; rachis densely many-flowered, elongated. Floral bracts pendent, linear, acuminate, the basal ones longer than the flowers, the upper ones gradually becoming a little shorter. Flowers not resupinate, glabrous. Sepals oblong, obtuse, 0.3 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals narrowly and obliquely lanceolate-ligulate, obtuse, 1-nerved, about as long as the sepals. Lip erect, at the base deeply sagittate-auriculate, excluding the basal auricles 0.3 cm long, near the middle 0.35 cm wide, above the middle 3-lobed; lateral lobes triangular, subacute, with three equally long falcate-subulate teeth surpassing the mid-lobe; mid-lobe oblong, at the apex bifid with acute segments; basal pit oblong, situated below the middle of the blade, in front of the pit with an inconspicuous, triangular, obtuse callus; basal auricles obliquely lanceolate, obtuse, 0.25 cm long. Column short, rather thick. Ovary 6-ribbed, slender cylindrical, glabrous, 0.33 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1919)
Colours: Flowers apparently yellow.
Habitat: Not recorded.
Flowering time in the wild: Not recorded.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea, West Sepik Province, exact locality not recorded.
Cultivation: Terrestrial. Requirements unknown.