Microtatorchis alata

Microtatorchis alata Ridl., Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. 9 (1916) 205

Type: Kloss s.n. (Camp 6a, 3100 ft.) (holo BM)

Stem very short. Leaves linear, falcate, obtuse, 1-2 by 0.3 cm, keeled, shortly mucronate by a prolongation of the keel. Inflorescence slender, 2-3 cm long, carrying flowers throughout its length; rachis slender, winged by the decurrent bracts, each wing widest just below the bract and gradually narrowing towards the next one below. Floral bracts linear, acuminate, hardly 0.1 cm long. Flowers distant, 0.4 cm long. Sepals linear, acuminate, caudate, connate at the very base only, very narrow, 0.4 cm long. Petals similar. Lip lanceolate, acuminate, acute, 0.4 cm long, at the base 0.1 cm wide; spur saccate, globose, short. Column very short, with long erect, lanceolate, acute stelidia. Pollinia 2, elliptic, stipe triangular, broad at the apex; viscidium long, linear. Fruit bottle-shaped, oblong, ribs hardly raised, 0.8 cm long, 0.2 cm diam. Pedicel with ovary 0.2 cm long. (After Ridley, 1916)Colours not recorded.

Habitat: Epiphyte in hill forest; 759 m.

Flowering time in the wild: Not recorded.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 449-2M.JPG.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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