Podochilus steinii J.J.Sm., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 66 (1934) 177
Type: Stein 77 (holo B, lost)
Stems fascicled, numerous, closely spaced, unbranched, thin, 8-18 cm long, internodes 0.15-0.3 cm long; roots puberulous. Leaves erect-patent, articulated, somewhat twisted, linear, acute, angular-channelled, dorsally keeled, with sharply apiculate keel, somewhat fleshy, when flattened 0.53-1.35 by 0.08-0.2 cm; leaf-sheath tubular, after shedding of the leaf on either side with an acute tooth. Inflorescence terminal and axillary, sessile, fascicled-branched, to c. 21-flowered, rachis very thin, flexuose, 0.45-1.3 cm long, internodes 0.06-0.08 cm long. Floral bracts distichous, widely patent, concave, when flattened semi-elliptic, slightly acuminate, sharply conical-apiculate, 3-nerved, 0.1 by 0.08 cm. Flowers 0.25 cm long. Sepals in basal half obliquely urceolate-connate. Median sepal ovate-triangular, obtuse, shortly obtusely apiculate, concave, 1-nerved, 0.2 cm long, free part 0.1 cm long, a little more than 0.1 cm wide. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong-triangular, obtuse, concave, 1-nerved, dorsally with a curved prominent rib, 0.25-0.28 cm long, free part obliquely triangular, 0.13 by 0.1 cm; mentum short, obtuse, ventricose. Petals at the base with an obliquely elongated-cuneate claw, concave, 1-nerved, almost 0.2 cm long, claw 0.08 cm long, blade slightly more than 0.1 cm long, 0.08 cm wide, with the incurved front margin adnate to the column, ovate-dilated, slightly 3-lobulate, lateral lobules at the broad base slightly rounded, separated from the median lobule by an obtuse angle; median lobule rounded-quadrangular, subtruncate, 0.05 cm long and wide. Lip with a narrow oblong-quadrangular, 0.05 cm long claw, oblong, somewhat narrowed towards the apex, at 1/3 and 2/3 of its length slightly constricted, concave, 3-nerved, 0.2 cm long, at the base about 0.08 cm wide, below the apex slightly more than 0.05 cm wide, obtuse, at the base with a backwards pointing, bilobed appendage, the appendage lobes short, triangular, obtuse, with an obtuse sinus. Column short, dorsally compressed, dorsally convex, to the apex of the rostellum 0.16 cm long; clinandrium deeply concave; rostellum porrect, deeply bipartite, with the two long subulate segments separated by an oblong rounded sinus; stigma similar to the clinandrium, with broad, slightly obtusely notched lower margin; column-foot very short. Anther cucullate, cordate, 0.06 cm long, produced in a long beak; connective thickened, subelliptic. Pollinia unequal, obliquely clavate; stipes two, in the apical part spathulate-dilated, concave, at the base connate; viscidium elongated, lanceolate; the whole pollinarium slightly more than 0.1 cm long. Ovary slightly more than 0.1 cm long. (After Smith, 1934)
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: March.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 568-127M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte, requires shaded position.