Aphyllorchis torricellensis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 35
Type: Schlechter 20057 (holo B, lost)
Leafless terrestrial, erect, slender, 25-40 cm high, rhizome short, erect, roots somewhat thickened, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Stem straight, or almost straight, terete, glabrous, sheaths 7-9, clasping the stem, obtuse, distant, except at the base. Inflorescence laxly 6-12-flowered, flowers turned to all sides. Floral bracts patent, oblong, or elliptic, obtuse, glabrous, about half as long as the ovary. Flowers erect-patent. Sepals oblong-ligulate, narrowly obtuse, glabrous, about 0.35 cm long. Lateral sepals subfalcate, oblique. Petals subfalcate-oblique, oblong-ligulate, obtuse, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip 0.3 cm long, 0.2 cm wide between the lateral lobes, articulated, hypochilium 0.1 cm long, somewhat concave, inside with three indistinct calli, lateral lobes when flattened 0.15 cm wide, semiorbicular, very small, epichilium 0.2 cm long, 3-lobulate, lateral lobules semiquadrate, median lobule longer, subquadrate, apical margins hood-like incurved, obtusely apiculate. Column slightly incurved, glabrous, about half as long as the lip, clinandrium enlarged, dorsally tridentate, rostellum triangular, porrect. Anther subreniform, cucullate, dorsally umbonate. Ovary with pedicel clavate, glabrous, 0.6 cm long; fruit oblongoid, pendulous, about 1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).
Habitat: Terrestrial in forest. Altitude 800-1300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June, July, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 52-33M.JPG
Cultivation: Terrestrial, probably parasitic on fungi and probably impossible to grow under normal conditions.