Malaxis wariana (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 85
Basionym: Microstylis wariana
Terrestrial, erect, 20-30 cm high. Rhizome short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Stem short, rather thick, terete, glabrous, up to 6 cm long, 4-6-leaved. Leaves erect-patent or erect, lanceolate-elliptic, acute, at the base cuneate, gradually narrowed into the petiole; blade 5-9 cm long, near the middle 1.7-2.5 cm wide, shiny; petiole dilated at the base, sheathing, 1.7-3 cm long. Inflorescence slender, straight or nearly so, angular, with a few small, distant, bract-like scales, glabrous; rachis laxly 8-20-flowered, cylindrical, up to 13 cm long. Floral bracts deflexed, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, less than half as long as the slender ovary and pedicel. Flowers patent, glabrous. Sepals oblong, obtuse. Median sepal 0.45 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, a little shorter and narrower. Petals obliquely linear, obtuse, 0.35 cm long. Lip at the base auriculate; blade near the middle 3-lobed, 0.3 cm long, at the middle 0.45 cm wide; callus inconspicuous, extending from the base to below the apex, pit lanceolate, basal, extending to the base of the mid-lobe; lateral lobes split into 4 slender, subulate, linear, acute teeth, the three inner ones much longer than the outer one; mid-lobe semiorbicular, bifid to the middle; auricles obliquely triangular, subacute, c. 0.15 cm long. Column short, rather thick. Anther suborbicular, subapiculate. Ovary with pedicel glabrous, 6-ribbed, including the pedicel c. 1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers light green with darker anther.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest; 450 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 431-468M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.