Malaxis lamii (J.J.Sm.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 81
Basionym: Microstylis lamii
Stem at the base decumbent, rooting, ascending, erect part branched (with 4 branches in the type specimen), compact, branches c. 5-leaved, internodes 0.3-0.7 cm long. Leaves obliquely ovate-oblong to ovate, at the apex slightly triangular-contracted, acute, at the base strongly oblique, with 3-5 main nerves, undulate, 3-6.3 by 1.5-2.4 cm; petiole short, channelled, including the tubular sheath 0.8-1.2 cm long. Inflorescence erect, elongated, producing flowers for a long time, laxly many-flowered, peduncle angular, over 10 cm long, with a small bract-like scale; rachis angular-winged, more than 21 cm long. Floral bracts reflexed, lanceolate-triangular, acute, concave, to 0.4 cm long. Flowers turned to all sides, widely patent, 0.47 cm wide, 0.55 cm long. Sepals and petals widely patent, somewhat reflexed, strongly convex. Median sepal ovate, obtuse, 3-nerved, 0.34 by 0.22 cm. Lateral sepals divergent, obliquely broadly ovate-elliptic, obtuse, 3-nerved, 0.3 by 0.24 cm. Petals obliquely oblong, slightly falcate, slightly dilated towards the apex, obtuse, 1-nerved, 0.3 by 0.13 cm. Lip horseshoe-shaped, concave, when flattened in outline 5-angled, almost 0.3 cm long, including the auricles 0.45 cm long, 0.4 cm wide, near the base with a very small, transverse, obtusely triangular lamella that is appressed to the base of the column, pit longitudinally linear-oblong with thickened margins; mid-lobe in outline triangular or semi-elliptic, 0.1 cm long 0.17 cm wide, divided almost up the middle into two obliquely triangular, acute teeth separated by a narrow sinus, on either side with 3 subulate teeth that are shorter than the mid-lobe and become smaller away from the mid-lobe, the outermost tooth triangular; basal auricles incurved, triangular, obtuse, 0.15 cm long. Column dorsally compressed, oblong-quadrangular, dorsally convex, 0.14 cm long, clinandrium concave making an obtuse angle with the dorsal side of the column, wings porrect, parallel, vertical, obtuse, surpassing the anther; . stigma transverse, crescent-shaped. Anther slightly cucullate, transverse, reniform, broadly obtuse, 0.07 cm wide. Pollinia 4, pear-shaped, united into two broadly obovate bodies, especially the outer ones slightly curved, 0.04 cm long. Ovary pedicellate, obtusely curved, 6-angular, 0.45 cm long. (After Smith, 1929)
Colours: Leaves light green below, dirty yellowish violet above. Peduncle, bracts and ovary bright violet. Sepals and petals yellowish violet, lip yellow with a purple centre, column yellow.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest; 20 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 431-197M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.