Microtatorchis tubulosa (J.J.Sm.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 9 (1911) 112
Basionym: Geissanthera tubulosa
Delicate epiphyte. Stem very short, roots thin. Leaves few, small, lanceolate, acuminate, narrowed at the base, keeled, 1.1 by 0.25 cm. Inflorescences several, elongated, many-flowered, flowering for a long time; peduncle short, 0.3-0.4 cm long; rachis flexuose, triangular in cross-section, to 4 cm long, internodes 0.15-0.75 cm long. Bracts widely patent, shorter than the flowers, trilobulate, 0.15 cm long, median lobule triangular, acute, concave, dorsally strongly keeled, with the keel decurrent on the rachis, lateral lobules minute, stipulaceous, triangular, acute. Flowers very small, 0.18 cm wide, 0.23 cm long. Sepals and petals connate into a 0.17 cm long, split tube, up to the apex 0.23 cm long. Free parts of the sepals ovate-triangular, subacuminate, acute, 0.1 cm long; free part of the petals similar but smaller, 0.06 cm long; all keeled outside, the keels decurrent on the tube. Lip free, spurred, 3-lobed, concave, in total 0.26 cm long, without spur 0.24 cm long; spur pointing downwards, broadly elliptic, constricted at the base, 0.07 cm long; lateral lobes near the base of the lip erect, small, triangular, slightly falcate-incurved, acute; mid-lobe elongated, straight, narrowly triangular, concave, apex shortly pugioniform, acute and provided with a backwards-pointing, 0.03 cm long awn. Column very short, thick, bifid, 0.03 cm long, arms oblong, obtuse, inside concave. Anther rounded-ovate, obtuse, at the base somewhat retuse. Pollinia 2, ovate-obovoid. Ovary 0.1 cm long. (After Smith, 1909)
Colours: Flowers light green.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 449-52M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.