Malaxis schumanniana (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 84
Basionym: Microstylis schumanniana
Terrestrial, small, erect, c. 10 cm high. Roots flexuose, filiform. Stem short, at the very base covered with sheaths, leafy above. Leaves erect-patent, petiolate, ovate, acuminate, at the base subcordate, with weakly undulate margins, glabrous on both sides, 1.5-2 cm long, above the base 0.8 -1.2 cm wide; petiole 1-1.5 cm long, at the base dilated, sheathing. Inflorescence straight or nearly so, subangular, glabrous, with very small, lanceolate, acuminate, distant peduncle-scales. Inflorescence laxly few-flowered. Floral bracts deflexed, lanceolate, acuminate, almost as long as the ovary. Flowers suberect, not resupinated. Median sepal deflexed, ovate, subobtuse, 0.3 cm long, glabrous. Lateral sepals obliquely falcate-ovate, subobtuse or acute, erect, a little shorter than the median sepal. Petals reflexed, linear, subacute, a little shorter than the median sepal. Lip erect, at the base very long auriculate, auricles 0.2 cm long; blade reniform, 0.2 cm long, 0.3 cm wide, shortly acuminate, in the middle with a horseshoe-shaped callus terminating near the base of the lip. Column short, stelidia very long, twice the height of the anther; rostellum deeply notched. Anther obovate, at the base subcordate, acuminate. (After Schlechter, 1905)
Colours: Sepals and petals creamy yellow, the lip deeper so, the latter in the middle and on the callus dark blue; anther blue.
Habitat: Terrestrial in montane forest; 1500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 431-388M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.