Aglossorhyncha peculiaris J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 14 (1929) 373, pl. 52, 30
Type: Doorman s.n. (VII-VIII 1914, N. Carstensz Mt., bivouac C, 1800 m)
Stem elongated, branched, rooting in the basal part and subterete, laterally compressed above, in cross section elliptic, collected part 28 cm long, up to 0.23 cm wide, internodes up to 1.3 cm long, upper ones decreasing in size. Leaves distichous, patent, slightly recurved, ligulate-lanceolate, 2.2-3 cm long, 0.7-0.65 cm wide, base cuneate, shortly contracted, appressed to the stem, above obtusely channelled with the sides somewhat convex and rugose, stiffly coriaceous, towards the apex narrowed, apex abruptly dilated and about equally rounded-bilobed, not mucronate, lobes suborbicular; sheaths tubular, compressed, apex truncate, dorsally obtuse keeled, longitudinally ribbed and transversely rugose, surpassing the internodes, 0.25-0.28 cm wide. Inflorescence terminal, 1-2-flowered. Lower bracts erect, conduplicate-spathulate, apex rounded, in the basal part prominently veined, 0.65-0.9 cm long; upper bracts smaller, thinner, less spathulate, below the apex sometimes slightly constricted. Flowers nodding. Median sepal lanceolate, 1.1 cm long, 0.33 cm wide, obtuse, shortly obtusely apiculate, 3-nerved, outer nerves branched. Lateral sepals free, obliquely lanceolate, 1. 1 cm long, 0.4 cm wide, 3-nerved, outer nerves branched, at apex with a laterally compressed, obtuse apiculum. Petals obliquely lanceolate, subfalcate, obtuse, abruptly shortly obtusely apiculate or bidentate, in about the upper 1/4 minutely erose, 3-nerved, 1.2 cm long, 0.33 cm wide. Lip forming an obtuse angle with the ovary, cymbiform, somewhat fleshy, slightly surpassing the column, when flattened broadly ovate, at the base truncate, more or less five-angular, 0.95 cm long, 0.63 cm wide, conical-apiculate with a callus inside, longitudinally grooved outside, 7-nerved, at least the three median nerves inside near the apex lamellate-raised, margins in basal 2/3 appressed to the column, otherwise incurved and thickened,. Column slender, above the base obtusely incurved, club-shaped, 0.78 cm long, at apex 0.23 cm wide, clinandrium deeply hollow, winged, 4-lobed, apical lobes shortly and broadly quadrangular, lacinulate, concave, lateral lobes triangular, 3-dentate, with a short tooth in the sinus between the lateral and apical lobes. Anther largely sunken in the clinandrium, flattish cucullate, 0.15 cm wide, in outline suborbicular, at the base truncate, apex rounded-bilobulate, connective somewhat thickened. Pollinia 4, dorsally compressed, outside convex, inside concave, united into 2 pyriform bodies, 0.08 cm long. Rostellum broad, truncate. Stigma prominent, conspicuous, semiovate, margins incurved. Ovary somewhat curved, 6-grooved, furfuraceous-punctate, 0.65 cm long. (After Smith, 1929)
Colours: Flower white, lip light green.
Habitat: Epiphyte in upper montane forest. Altitude 1800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 23-12M.JPG
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.