Malaxis vinicolor (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 85
Basionym: Microstylis vinicolor
Terrestrial, erect, slender, 20-25 cm high. Rhizome short, stem-like; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Stem terete, glabrous, not thickened, 4-7 cm long, 4-7-leaved. Leaves erect-patent, petiolate; blade obliquely lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, 4-6.5 cm long, below the middle 1.2-1.8 cm wide; petiole sheathing at the base, 1-2 cm long. Inflorescence straight or nearly so, angular, with a few minute, distant scales, glabrous; rachis rather laxly many-flowered, up to 10 cm long. Floral bracts deflexed, narrowly lanceolate, usually a little shorter than the ovary. Flowers patent, glabrous. Sepals oblong, obtuse. Median sepal 0.3 cm long. Lateral sepals a little shorter, oblique. Petals narrowly ligulate, obtuse, oblique, about as long as the lateral sepals. Lip sagittate-auriculate, 3-lobed above the middle, 0.25 cm long, near the middle 0.3 cm wide; lateral lobes along their outer angle rounded-lobed and with 3 teeth, the teeth falcate-lanceolate, acute, becoming somewhat smaller towards the outer margin; mid-lobe semiorbicular, obtuse, notched to near the middle, surpassing the teeth of the lateral lobes; callus horseshoe-shaped, extending from the middle of the mid-lobe to above the base of the lip, decurrent, basal pit oblong, almost reaching the middle of the blade; auricles ovate-triangular, obtuse, parallel, c. 0.15 cm long Column very short, rather thick. Anther reniform-cucullate, obtusely umbonate. Ovary cylindrical, 6-ribbed, glabrous, including the pedicel 0.35 cm [‘3.5 cm’] long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Leaves on underside with wine-red veins. Peduncle, rachis and flowers deep wine-red.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lower montane forest; 1000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 431-460M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.