Microtatorchis pterophora

Microtatorchis pterophora Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 1005

Type: Schlechter 20065 (holo B, lost)

Epiphytic, very small. c. 5 cm high, stemless. Roots filiform, glabrous. Leaves c. 3, falcate-ligulate, apiculate, narrowed at the base, 2.5-2.8 cm long, near the middle 0.45-0.6 cm wide. Inflorescence rather laxly several-flowered, almost twice as long as the leaves; peduncle and rachis winged-angular, rather thick. Floral bracts deltoid, acute, on either side at the base with an acute tooth. Flowers glabrous. Sepals and petals about equally long, narrowly lanceolate, subobtuse, keeled outside, in basal fourth connate into a bell-shaped tube, 0.6 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Lip lanceolate, subobtuse subacuminate, in basal half with incurved margins, about as long as the sepals; spur broadly obconical-subglobose, at the apex with four humps, a fourth as long as the ovary. Column very short, deeply bilobed. Anther ovate-cucullate, obtuse; pollinia obliquely oblongoid; stipe about as long as the pollinia, at the base slender, upwards obovate; viscidium oblong, fairly large. Ovary slightly 6-ribbed, 0.6 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)

Colours: Flowers green, later becoming yellowish.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 800 m.

Flowering time in the wild: September.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 449-40M.JPG.

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.

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