Mediocalcar versteegii J.J.Sm. subsp. intermedium Schuit., Orchid Monogr. 8 (1997) 69, fig. 27, Pl. 4a
Type: RSNH (McKee) 24160 (holo K; iso P)
Pseudobulbs 2-25 mm apart, 1.5-3.2 cm long, 3-6 mm across, largely enveloping the rhizome; free top prostrate to suberect, 4-12 mm long. Leaves one or two per pseudobulb, sessile, (linear-)lanceolate (index 4.7-13.8), 5-13.5 cm by 5-15 mm; gradually narrowing towards the base, apex obtuse to subacute, minutely bilobed, mucronate. Inflorescences solitary, synanthous or more frequently heteranthous. Peduncle 12-15 mm long, at the apex with a triangular bract 1-2 mm long. Pedicel and ovary 10-19 mm long. Flowers urceolate-globose, oblique, 10.5-12.5 mm long. Synsepalum 11-13 mm long and 15-17 mm wide when cut open and flattened; free tips slightly spreading to reflexed, 3.5-4.5 mm long, apices obtuse to subacute. Lateral sepals smooth or slightly keeled. Petals lanceolate to linear-oblanceolate (index 5.4-8) 8-10.5 by 1-1.5 mm; apex acute; 3-nerved. Lip 8-9 by c. 4 mm in natural position, the blade broadly ovate when flattened; claw 3-3.5 by 2-2.5 mm, auricles rather conspicuous, reflexed; apex acute, straight to recurved; margins erect, clasping the column; spur shortly saccate, recurved, 0.6-1.5 mm deep, c. 2 mm wide just below the mouth. Column broadly clavate, c. 5 mm long, c. 2.5 mm wide at the apex, foot short, c. 1 mm long. Fruit (immature) narrowly cylindric, 24 by 2 mm. (After Schuiteman, 1997)
Colours: Flowers red to orange with bright yellow to orange-yellow tips, in New Guinea also with greenish yellow tips. Rarely red with white tips.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 1000-2300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, February, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Distribution: Malesia (Moluccas, New Guinea), Solomon Islands, Vanuatu.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 436-66M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.
Notes: Similar to subsp. versteegii, but with a shorter spur, and pseudobulbs usually displaying less pronounced bud-displacement.