Malaxis tubulosa (J.J.Sm.) Ames, Orchidaceae 5 (1915) 68
Basionym: Microstylis tubulosa
Stems erect, rooting at the base, branching, with the branches crowded, 5 by 1 cm, c. 5-leaved. Leaves petiolate; petiole 3.75 cm long, sheathing; blade obliquely oblong, 12 by 4.7 cm, with 3 main nerves prominent below, margins undulate, apex acute, mucronate. Inflorescences racemose, erect; peduncle 17 cm long, angular-winged, peduncle-scales few, subulate; rachis 20 cm long, angular-winged, densely many-flowered. Floral bracts subulate, to 2 cm long, apex acute, reflexed, apices incurved-patent. Pedicel 0.5 cm long; ovary 0.27 cm long, at almost right angles to the column or at an obtuse angle. Flowers 0.47 cm wide, 0.77 cm long, patent. Median sepal oblong, 0.45 by 0.25 cm, apex subobtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong, 0.45 by 0.25 cm, apex subobtuse. Petals reflexed, lanceolate, 0.37 by 0.13 cm, strongly convex, apex obtuse. Lip horseshoe-shaped, in outline almost orbicular, concave, in the centre convex, 0.4 by 0.37 cm, base auricles almost as long as the blade, widely separated, slightly falcate-triangular, with two longitudinal ribs, apex rounded, forming a small lobule. Column 0.2 cm long, dorsally with a fleshy tooth, arms very large, concave, obtuse, forming an oblique tube surpassing the anther; rostellum short, porrect, triangular, obtuse. Anther cordate, obtuse. Fruit erect, clavate, with 9 strong ribs and narrow ones. (After Smith, 1907)
Colours: Leaves green. Flowers pale greenish yellow, lip pale ochrish yellow. Column very dark green, paler green near the base, tooth green. Anther green with paler margin. Pollinia pale yellow.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland and lower montane forest; 100-1000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June, July, August.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 431-444M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm to intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.