Aphyllorchis arfakensis J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12 (1913) 394
Type: Gjellerup 1061 (holo BO; iso L)
Rhizome stout, vertical, thick, terete, with short internodes, densely covered with short obtuse scales. Roots thick. Inflorescence straight, tall, laxly many-flowered, peduncle stout, 55-76 cm long, with several small, alternating, tubular, minutely finely warty, 1-3 cm long scales, which towards the top of the inflorescence become more distant and larger, the scales frequently at the apex cucullate-apiculate-contracted; inflorescence below the rachis with a few sterile bracts; rachis sparsely finely warty, 20-31 cm long. Floral bracts reflexed, narrowly lanceolate, dorsally sparsely finely warty, to 1.75-2 cm long, upper smaller. Flowers rather large, patent. Median sepal lanceolate, 1.2 cm by 0.38-0.4 cm, obtuse, concave, dorsally along the median especially towards the apex papillose, 3-nerved, mid-rib dorsally obtusely prominent. Lateral sepals obliquely lanceolate, 1.2 cm by 0.34 cm, obtuse or rather obtuse, dorsally papillose especially towards the apex, 3-nerved, mid-rib dorsally especially in the apical part prominent. Petals thinner textured than the sepals, obliquely lanceolate, 1.1 cm by 0.37 cm, subacute, slightly falcate, margins irregular, at the base 2-3-nerved, mid-rib dorsally prominent. Lip at c. 2/5 above the base obtusely angled recurved, in total when flattened 0.95 cm long; hypochile thickened in the middle, 0.2 cm long, when flattened 0.48 cm wide, lobes erect, rather large, triangular, obtuse, not veined; epichile 3-lobed, concave, at the base thin, when flattened 0.75 cm long, across the lateral lobes 0.46 cm wide, lateral lobes erect, obliquely semiorbicular, at the apex hardly prolonged, mid-lobe oblong, 0.38 cm long, concave, obliquely conical-elongated at the apex. Column slender, obtusely angled-curved, thickened at the apex, 0.77 cm long, auricles obliquely truncate. Anther cucullate, elliptic, obtuse, minutely apiculate, minutely verruculose-papillose, 0.03 cm long, connective large, strongly thickened, obovate-elliptic. Rostellum triangular, obtuse. Stigma deeply concave. Ovary with the short pedicel twisted, 6-grooved, finely warty, 2-2.2 cm long. (After Smith, 1915).
Colours: Inflorescence and young fruits pink with violet stripes. Flower yellowish, petals with a violet line, lip hypochile violet, epichile yellow with brown transverse streaks, column at the base violet, at the apex yellow.
Habitat: Terrestrial in forest. Altitude 400-1200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: March, April.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 52-6M.JPG
Cultivation: Terrestrial, probably parasitic on fungi and probably impossible to grow under normal conditions.