Plocoglottis sphingoides J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 11 (1913) 554
Type: Janowsky 186 (holo BO)
Pseudobulb 2.1 cm long, angular-subterete, 1-leaved. Leaf petiolate; petiole 3.5 cm long, channelled, blade 17 by 6.75 cm, oblong-elliptic, apex acute-acuminate, glabrous, 5-veined. Inflorescence laxly many-flowered, pubescent; peduncle 34 cm long, rachis 15.5 cm long. Bract when flattened up to 1.2-1.4 cm long, long subulate. Sepals dorsally pubescent. Median sepal 2.2 by 0.36 cm, linear, concave, pubescent, with 5 distinct veins at base, apex acuminate. Lateral sepals 1.4 cm long, linear, concave, S-shaped, slightly falcate, pubescent, with 5 distinct veins, base broadly cuneate, apex hook-shaped, recurved, acuminate. Petals 2 cm long, linear, falcate, sparsely basally pubescent on both sides, with 3 distinct veins, apex acute. Lip when not flattened 0.48 by 0.45 cm, broadly obtriangular, lip strongly convex, near the base with two swellings separated by a longitudinal channel which becomes broader towards the base, at base with a small sac formed by column-foot and lip base 0.1 cm long; blade at base with two thin triangular lamellae, apex and lateral margins revolute; lip when flattened in total 0.85 cm long, 0.58 cm wide, quadrangular, with 3 distinct veins at base, the lateral two branching into 3-4 smaller ones, with rounded angles, widened to apex, apex slightly broadly rounded, acumen 0.25 cm long, subulate, strongly revolute, abruptly acuminate. Column 0.63 cm long (excluding anther), straight, apex incurved, obtuse, laterally compressed, concave in front, sparsely furfuraceous-pubescent, wings tooth-like; dorsally sparsely pubescent. Anther 0.18 cm long, subovate in outline, near apex contracted into a short acute-acuminate triangle, base truncate, subretuse, connective swollen, keeled. Stigma obovate-triangular. Pedicel with ovary 1.48 cm long, pubescent. (After Eang Hourt, unpublished manuscript 2004)
Colours: Flower yellow with red spots.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest; 500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July, October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 564-50M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.