Tainia malayana J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 31 (1932) 76
Type: Bogor cult. (J.J. Smith) 109m (Ambon, Mt. Toena) (holo BO)
Stem of sterile shoot with c. 5 internodes, up to c. 58 mm long, c. 2 mm diam. (herb.). Pseudobulb consisting of several internodes, erect, conical, 22-36 by 5-12 mm, scale of subterminal node more or less persistent, 110-162 mm long, torn open at the base. Petiole 170-247 mm long, with an articulation about half-way. Leaf blade elliptic, 19.0-33.4 by 2.1- 5.1 cm, index 6.5-10.0, slightly acuminate; margin not undulate; thin, 111-211-veined (3-7 thickened abaxially). Inflorescence arising from the base of the pseudobulb, 43.0- 74.4 cm long, 5-12-flowered. Peduncle 21.0-54.4 cm long, 2-6 mm diam. Peduncle scales 5-6, the longest 25-50 mm long, acute. Rhachis 4.5-30 cm long, 1-2 mm diam. Floral bracts patent to reflexed, 6-15 mm long, acute. Flowers several open simultaneously. Pedicel and ovary 4-17 mm long, longer than the bracts. Median sepal elliptic to obovate, 11.5-20 by 2-4 mm, index 3.6-5.7, acute to slightly acuminate, mid-vein not to slightly thickened abaxially. Lateral sepals about elliptic, straight to slightly falcate, 12-20 by 2.5-4 mm, index 3.9-6, acute to slightly acuminate, mid-vein not to slightly thickened abaxially. Petals obliquely elliptic to obovate, 10-20 by 2-3.5 mm, index 3.7-6.7, acute to acuminate, mid-vein not to slightly thickened abaxially. Lip with a distinct spur of 2-3.5 mm long; blade entire with a more or less distinct notch, in general outline about obovate, 10- 15 by 6-9 mm, index 1.5-2.2; tip acuminate; margins entire, glabrous, slightly undulating distally; adaxial surface about glabrous; lip adaxially with 3-5 keels, the median keel 1-10.5 mm long, starting at 0-9.5 mm, raising plate-like from just below the broadest part of the lip, decurrent towards the tip, highest distally, crest straight, entire, glabrous, not thickened towards its distal end; the lateral keels 0.5-10 mm long, starting at 0-9 mm, raising plate-like from just below the broadest part of the lip, decurrent towards the tip or terminating more or less abruptly, highest distally, crest straight, entire, glabrous, not thickened towards its distal end; the outer keels when present 1-4 mm long, starting at 5.5-9 mm, raising plate-like from just below the broadest part of the lip, decurrent towards the tip or terminating more or less abruptly, highest distally, crest straight, entire, glabrous, not thickened towards its distal end. Column 7-10 mm long, stelidia absent; top part truncate to slightly semi-orbicular, margin entire to slightly denticulate; wings seam-like, extending up to the tip of the column-foot; abaxially sometimes with a distinct longitudinal ridge; column-foot 0-1 mm long. Anther 1-2 by 1-2 mm, abaxially with 2 crests; thecae distinctly 4-celled. Pollinia 8. Fruit ellipsoid, 23-28 by 5-7 mm; stalk 3-5 mm long. (After Turner, 1992)
Colours: Pseudobulb purple. Flowers brown maroon; or tepals pale greenish-yellow with reddish veins, lip paler; or lip yellow with crimson spots on outside of spur, column pale yellow, spotted crimson adaxially.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lower montane forest; 1200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: Malesia (Java, New Guinea), Malesia.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 677-61M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.