Malaxis xanthochila (Schltr.) Ames & C.Schweinf. in Ames, Orchidaceae 6 (1920) 73
Basionym: Microstylis xanthochila
Terrestrial, erect, glabrous, 25-40 cm high. Roots filiform, elongated, villose. Stem very short, almost lacking. Leaves erect-patent, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, acuminate, plicate, narrowed at the base into a petiole, 5-12 cm long, below the middle 1.5-4.5 cm wide. Inflorescence straight or nearly so, angular; rachis elongated, cylindrical [including the flowers], rather laxly many-flowered. Floral bracts linear-lanceolate, acuminate, deflexed, 0.4-0.5 cm long. Flowers erect-patent, not resupinate. Median sepal deflexed, apex incurved, oblong, obtuse, 0.25 cm long. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-oblong, obtuse, as long as the median sepal but broader. Petals patent, linear-oblong, obtuse, as long as the median sepal. Lip erect, at the base 2-auriculate, auricles triangular, 0.15 cm long, obtuse; blade subreniform, 0.2 cm long [excluding the auricles], 0.3 cm wide, in the middle with an obtuse pit, apex notched, margins in apical third tridentate, the teeth triangular-falcate, acute. Column short; stelidia erect, a little longer than the truncate rostellum. Anther rounded. Ovary clavate, 0.3 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1905)
Colours: Flowers dull brownish, lip more yellowish.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest; 10 to 300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, March, April, May, July, October, November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Australia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 431-478M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.