Peristylus bismarckiensis (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 26 (1971) 177
Basionym: Habenaria bismarckiensis
Terrestrial, erect, very slender, c. 60 cm high; stem near the middle [i.e. below the peduncle] with two closely spaced leaves, below covered with a few distant sheaths. Leaves erect-patent, elliptic, acuminate, glabrous, with slightly crispate-undulate margins, 7-10 by 2.8-3.2 cm. Peduncle with lanceolate, acuminate scales, terete, glabrous, straight or nearly straight; rachis rather laxly 20- to 25-flowered, secund, 10-15 cm long. Floral bracts erect, lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, about half as long as the ovary. Flowers glabrous. Median sepal ovate, obtuse, 2.5 cm long. Lateral sepals deflexed, obliquely elliptic, obtuse, as long as the median sepal. Petals obliquely rhombic-elliptic, obtuse, in basal third along the anterior margin adnate to the lip, about as long as the sepals. Lip 3-lobed to below the middle, as long as the petals, lobes straight, all equally long; lateral lobes linear-ligulate, subobtuse; mid-lobe somewhat broader; at the base of the lip with two indistinct low swellings; spur deflexed, incurved, cylindrical, above the middle gradually slightly swollen, obtuse, somewhat laterally flattened, 0.35 cm long. Rostellum rounded, small; stigmatophores cylindrical, more than twice as long as the anther-channels; staminodes oblong, as long as the stigmatophores. Anther at the apex retuse, anther channels ascending, short. Ovary cylindrical, at the apex rostrate, glabrous, c. 0.8 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers green.
Habitat: Terrestrial in montane forest, shrubland and bogs, rarely semi-epiphytic on mossy logs; 1900 to 3000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, July, August, September, November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 542-10M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.