Appendicula steffensiana (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 8, 1 (1909) 119, pl. 40, 134
Basionym: Podochilus steffensianus
Roots elongated, shortly villose. Stems erect, unbranched, straight or nearly so, 30-50 cm long, many-leaved. Leaves erect-patent to patent, narrowly lanceolate, 6-14 by 0.8-1.7 cm, apex acuminate, mucronate. Inflorescence terminal, racemose or sometimes sparsely branching, erect to suberect-patent, usually not longer than the uppermost leaf. Floral bracts subpatent, ovate to oblong, apex obtuse to acute. Flowers c. 0.6 cm high. Dorsal sepal ovate-oblong, 0.4 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-oblong, 0.4 cm by 3 mm, apex narrowly obtuse; mentum obtuse. Petals obliquely narrowly oblong-ligulate, 0.4 cm long, apex obtuse. Lip pandurate, 0.4 cm long, base concave, basal appendage oblong-ligulate, pubescent, much widened towards the middle of the lip, ending in two glabrous obtuse lobules, lip in the middle with incurved margins, constricted, apical part broadly ovate, at apex with a minute callus, narrowly obtuse. Column short, rostellum erect, deeply emarginate; column-foot long. Anther ovate-cordate, apex attenuate. Pollinia 6, obliquely clavate, viscidia 2, coherent but distinct, acuminate.
(After Schlechter, 1905, as Podochilus steffensianus Schltr.).
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Epiphyte on tree trunks in lower montane forest. Altitude 800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 57-191M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm-intermediate growing epiphyte.
Note: Should be critically compared with Appendicula penicillata Blume.