Pristiglottis pectinifera

Pristiglottis pectinifera (Schltr.) Cretz. & J.J.Sm., Acta Fauna Fl. Universali, ser. 2, Bot., 1, 14 (1934) 5

Basionym: Cystopus pectinifer

Terrestrial, ascending, small, c. 7 cm high. Rhizome decumbent, stem-like; roots short, flexuose, puberulous. Stem terete, glabrous, c. 4-leaved. Leaves erect-patent, petiolate, ovate-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, glabrous, blade 2.8-3.2 by 1-1.3 cm; petiole at the base dilated, clasping the stem, 0.7-1 cm long. Inflorescence short, few-flowered. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, with ciliate-fringed margins, about as long as the ovary. Flowers suberect. Sepals porrect, lanceolate, acute, connate in basal fourth, sparsely covered with backwards pointing hairs, 1.7 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, at the base lobed-dilated, connate into a short obtuse sac. Petals obliquely linear-ligulate, acute, glabrous, in basal third adnate to the sepaline tube, c. 1.5 cm long. Lip at the base ovate-cucullate, inside with two glands, glabrous, in the central part forming a claw with incurved, densely pectinate margins, apical lobe rounded, acuminate when expanded, whole lip 2 cm long, basal sac 0.5 cm long, near the base 0.3 cm wide, claw 0.9 cm long, in the middle 0.4 cm wide, apical lobe 0.6 by 0.5 cm. Column short, in front with two lamellae; rostellum lanceolate-elongated, shortly bifid. Anther at the base ovate-cucullate, cordate, long-rostrate. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, c. 1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)

Colours: Leaves dark green. Flowers white.

Habitat: Terrestrial in lower montane forest; 1000 m.

Flowering time in the wild: September.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 583-19M.JPG.

Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.

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