Appendicula patentissima J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 14 (1929) 369, pl. 50, 27
Type: Feuilletau de Bruyn 468 (holo L)
Stems elongated, collected part 34 cm long, internodes 1.1-1.5 cm long. Leaves patent, lanceolate-linear, apex shortly obliquely obtusely bilobulate, mucro somewhat longer, subulate, at the base shortly narrowed and channelled, when dried papyraceous, up to 5.5 cm long, 0.75 cm wide; sheaths tubular, surpassing the internodes, apex truncate and in front deeply notched. Inflorescences axillary, two breaking through the sheath, widely patent, curved, much shorter than the leaves, densely 8-flowered, peduncle terete, 0.75 cm long, at the base with a few scales, rachis angular, 0.8 cm long. Floral bracts facing all sides, reflexed, incurved above, ovate-triangular, acute, concave, 3-nerved, 0.38 cm long, 0.23 cm wide, the upper ones the smallest. Flowers small, 0.55 cm long. Median sepal erect, orbicular-ovate, apex triangular-contracted, at the base broad, concave, 3-nerved, 0.34 cm long, 0.3 cm wide. Lateral sepals broad, concave, decurrent on the column-foot, margins in front at the base shortly connate, obliquely triangular, obtuse, 3-nerved, 0.33 cm long, to the front margin 0.5 cm long, at the base about 0.4 cm wide; mentum broad, somewhat dorsally compressed, apex broadly rounded-truncate, almost parallel to the ovary, 0.26 cm long, 0.23 cm wide. Petals broad, obliquely obovate-five-angled, back margin strongly rounded, obtuse, at the base broad, 3-nerved, about 0.25 cm long, 0.23 wide. Lip entire, erect, apex recurved, in outline oblong, lower 1/3 thinner and on either side inflated-concave, 3-nerved, outer nerves at the base forked, with a conspicuous obtuse callus, below the apex with a small callus, when flattened oblong, apex rounded, at 2/5 from the base dilated and rounded at the base, adnate to the apex of the column-foot, 0.48 cm long, at the base about 0.3 cm wide, above 0.23 cm wide; appendage narrowly oblong, truncate, channelled, fleshy, not reaching the base of the lip, towards the base somewhat dilated and passing into the somewhat fleshy middle part of the lip. Column short, making an obtuse angle with the ovary, dorsally convex, without anther about 0.2 cm long, clinandrium deeply hollow, margin serrulate, auricles triangular, acute. Anther cucullate, cordate, about 0.15 cm long, apex produced and shortly obtusely bidentate, connective at the base thickened, towards the apex keeled-decurrent and terminating in an acute tooth which is a third as long. Rostellum porrect, triangular, acutely bidentate. Stigma crescent-shaped. Column-foot parallel to the ovary, slightly incurved above, oblong, convex with a longitudinal groove, towards the apex dilated, 0.28 cm long. Ovary rather thick, 6-grooved, about 0.3 cm long. (After Smith, 1929)
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude 0 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 57-150M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.