Malaxis werneri (Schltr.) W.Kittr., Bot. Mus. Leafl. 30 (1984, publ. 1985) 97
Basionym: Microstylis werneri
Terrestrial, erect, c. 40 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, shortly villose. Stem rather thick, cylindrical, to 10 cm long, 0.7 cm diam., 3- to 5-leaved. Leaves erect-patent, narrowly and obliquely elliptic, acuminate, at the base gradually narrowed into the petiole, including the petiole 13-18 cm long, near the middle 2.7-4 cm wide. Inflorescence straight or nearly so, angular, with a few small lanceolate, acuminate scales, excluding the rachis c. 10 cm long; rachis densely many-flowered, elongated, to 20 cm long. Floral bracts spreading, linear, acuminate, the basal ones somewhat surpassing the flowers, the upper ones gradually becoming shorter. Flowers glabrous, not resupinated. Sepals oblong, obtuse, 0.38 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, a little broader than the median sepal. Petals obliquely ligulate, obtuse, 1-nerved, about as long as the sepals. Lip erect, in outline broadly elliptic, at the base deeply sagittate; blade 0.38 cm long, near the middle 0.35 cm wide, 3-lobed in apical half; lateral lobes triangular, subobtuse, with three linear-falcate teeth of which the inner ones are as long as the mid-lobe; mid-lobe broadly oblong, shortly notched; near the middle of the lip with a horse-shoe shaped swelling surrounding a median pit; basal auricles lanceolate-triangular, subobtuse, subfalcate, 0.2 cm long. Column short. Ovary pedicellate, glabrous, 6-ribbed, 0.6 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1921)
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest; 150 m.
Flowering time in the wild: August.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 431-474M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.