Nervilia crociformis

Nervilia crociformis (Zoll. & Moritzi) Seidenf., Dansk Bot. Ark. 32, 2 (1978) 151

Basionym: Bolborchis crociformis

Terrestrial, erect, unbranched, 10-20 cm high; tuber globose. Leaf basal, hysteranthous, petiolate, blade cordate-reniform or suborbicular, indistinctly 7-angular, glabrous below, above minutely finely pilose, 3-4.5 cm long, near the middle 4-6 cm wide; petiole erect, glabrous, c. 2 cm long. Inflorescence erect, with a few distant acuminate, clasping scales, glabrous, 1-flowered, 10-20 cm long. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, as long as the ovary or a little shorter. Flowers pendent. Sepals and petals linear-lanceolate or linear, acuminate. Sepals 2.3 by 0.3-0.4 cm. Petals a little shorter, oblique, somewhat narrowed towards the base. Lip cuneate, in the apical part 3-lobed; lateral lobes truncate, deeply lacerate-fimbriate, mid-lobe triangular, acute, somewhat surpassing the lateral lobes, with the margins mainly near the base lacerate-slit; lip in total 1.5 cm long, near the apex 0.9 cm wide, with a longitudinal median keel, in front mealy-puberulous. Column straight, slender; clinandrium lacerate-dentate. Pedicel elongating in the fruiting stage. Fruit pendulous, 1.3 cm long, near the middle 0.5 cm diam., glabrous. (After Schlechter, 1905, as Nervilia fimbriata Schltr.)

Colours: Sepals and petals light green, lip pure white.

Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland and lower montane forest, also in Imperata grassland; 30-1500 m.

Flowering time in the wild: May, July, August, September, October, November, December.

Distribution: Malesia (Java, New Guinea, Philippines), Africa, trop. Asia, Australia.

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 479-18M.JPG.

Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires light shade.

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