Microtatorchis multiflora Ridl., Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. 9 (1916) 205
Type: Kloss s.n. (Camp 13 to 14, 10500 to 12500 ft.) (holo BM)
Roots thick, not flattened. Stem up to 0.3 cm long. Leaves oblong, coriaceous, abruptly in narrowed in an acute point, 0.4 by 0.15 cm. Inflorescences 5 cm long [up to 20 cm long], carrying flowers throughout its length, flexuose, quadrangular[-winged, with sparse, up to 1 mm long teeth along the wings]. Floral bracts ovate, lanceolate, boat-shaped, patent [1-3 veined], 1 mm long [1.5-6 mm long; at the base on either side with a narrow, tooth-like, up to 1 mm long appendage]. Flowers very small. Sepals ovate, triangular [2 mm long], acute, connate at the very base only. Lateral sepals narrower and more lanceolate. Petals narrowly lanceolate, as long as the sepals. Lip broadly ovate, concave, abruptly cuspidate, as long as the sepals and petals; spur subglobose, narrowed at the base. Column short, with short obtuse stelidia. Pollinia 2, very minute, elliptic; stipe filiform; viscidium longer, linear-oblong. Pedicel with ovary shorter than the floral bract. Fruit obliquely pear-shaped, 0.4 cm long, 0.2 cm diam., pedicel 0.1 cm long. (After Ridley, 1916, with observations based on other material between square brackets)
Colours: Flowers yellowish.
Habitat: Epiphyte on mossy trees and shrubs Also on tree fern trunks and terrestrial in open subalpine vegetation; 759 to 3870 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, May, June, July, September, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 449-29M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.