Podochilus falcipetalus Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58 (1922) 88
Type: Ledermann 12230 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, decumbent or ascending, branched, to c. 20 cm long. Stems and branches flexuose, slender, densely leafy, entirely covered with the tightly clasping, short leaf-sheaths. Leaves erect-patent, ligulate or lanceolate-ligulate, 0.7-1 cm long, near the middle 0.15-0.2 cm wide; obliquely acute or subacuminate, glabrous. Inflorescence terminal, 3-4-flowered, rarely more than 1 cm long, a little longer than the leaves, laxly few-flowered. Floral bracts elliptic- or rhombic-cucullate, acuminate, equalling or somewhat surpassing the flowers, margins slightly undulate. Sepals ovate-lanceolate, 0.45 cm long, acuminate. Lateral sepals falcate-oblique, keeled outside, at the base along the front margin widened and connate; mentum semi-oblong, 0.2 cm long, obtuse. Petals linear-lanceolate, 0.35 cm long, acute, falcate, with slightly denticulate margins in upper half, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip peltate-clawed, in outline oblong, 0.38 cm long, acuminate, narrowed in basal third, below the point of attachment shortly extended, truncate, with the acute corners slightly divergent, lip in apical third slightly denticulate. Column short; rostellum triangular, erect, shallowly notched. Ovary shortly pedicellate, clavate, 0.35 cm long, glabrous or almost glabrous. (After Schlechter, 1922)
Colours: Flower violettish white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 568-45M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.