Malaxis pectinata (J.J.Sm.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 83
Basionym: Microstylis pectinata
Stem elongated, slightly compressed, more or less, 5-13 cm long, c. 3-5-leaved. Leaves petiolate, obliquely ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, acute, slightly undulate, with five nerves grooved above, keeled underneath, above between the nerves convex, 5-9.5 cm long, 2-3 cm wide; petiole channelled, 5-angular, including the short tubular sheath 1.5-3 cm long. Inflorescence erect, at the apex nodding, laxly many-flowered; peduncle winged-angular, c. 10 cm long, with bract-like, more or less patent scales; rachis c. 12 cm long or more. Floral bracts reflexed, lanceolate-triangular, acute, concave, 0.4 cm long. Flowers 0.75 cm wide, 0.9 cm long. Median sepal pointing downwards, oblong, obtuse, convex, 0.5 cm long, 0.23 cm wide. Lateral sepals erect, broadly obliquely ovate, broadly obtuse or subobtuse, strongly convex, 0.4 cm long, 0.3 cm wide. Petals divergent, slightly recurved, obliquely lanceolate-linear, slightly spathulate, obtuse, convex, 1-nerved, 0.4 cm long, 0.13 cm wide. Lip rather shortly auriculate, in outline suborbicular, 0.65 cm long and wide, in front on either side split into 4 long, subulate, falcate, about equally long, 0.2 cm long teeth, mid-lobe about as long as the teeth, in outline broadly ovate, irregularly acutely bidentate, 0.17 cm long, 0.2 cm wide; basal pit triangular, upper margins slightly crescent-shaped-swollen; auricles shorter than the blade, parallel, broadly triangular, subobtuse, convex, 0.2 cm long. Column short, dorsally compressed, at the apex dilated, 0.08 cm long, auricles wide, obtuse, horizontal; rostellum bidentate. Anther transversely ovate-elliptic. Pollinia 4, in united into obovoid bodies. Ovary pedicellate, , 6-winged-angular, 1.3 cm long. (After Smith, 1909)
Colours: Stem more or less tinged purple. Leaves dark purple-green, underneath purple, petiole purple. Rachis pale green, angles purple. Floral bracts green. Flowers dull purple; lateral sepals with pale green longitudinal lines; lip with a shiny, green pit. Column green, rostellum with purple margins, anther dark purple-green with white margins; pollinia yellow. Ovary pale green.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest.
Flowering time in the wild: Not known (described from cultivated specimen).
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 431-321M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.