Calanthe caulescens J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 2 (1911) 2
Type: Kock, de 144 (holo BO)
Terrestrial or epiphytic herb, erect, 25-60 cm tall; rhizome decumbent, cauliform; roots flexuous, elongate, terete, shortly tomentose. Stem unbrached, elongated, terete, glabrous, densely leafed, covered with sheaths and their fibrous remnants, margins of sheaths crenulate. Leaves erect to spreading, lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, narrowed in basal part, base sheathing; lamina (6-)10-18 by 1.0-2.2(-3.2) cm. Inflorescence lateral, erect, sublax, 4-10-flowered. Floral bracts erect to suberect, elliptic, acuminate, shorter than the flowers. Flowers erect, rather small, glabrous. Median sepal obovate to oblong, rounded or acute to minutely apiculate, 0.8-1.1 by 0.35-0.45 cm, concave, with glands in upper half. Later sepals oblique, 0.75-1 by 0.35-0.45 cm. Petals spathulate to elliptic, obtuse, oblique, 0.7-1 cm by 0.35-0.5 cm. Lip curved, lamina small, broadly oblong-ligulate, apical margins inrolled; lateral lobes basal, minute, rounded; immature flowers lack a callus, mature flowers with a transverse thickening across the mouth of the spur which in some flowers becomes a fleshy callus; spur deflexed, cylindrical, obtuse, slightly narrowed at the base, (0.2-)0.66-0.88 cm long. Column adnate to margin of lip, sometimes slightly dilated towards apex; rostellum short, emarginate. Anther subtruncate, glabrous; pollinia 8, oblique, clavate. (After Thomas, 1999).
Colours: Flower white to greenish white, lip red or salmon pink.
Habitat: Terrestrial in upper montane forest in exposed positions, also on road banks. Altitude 2300-3250 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, June, July, September, October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 101-62M.JPG
Cultivation: Cool growing terrestrial, keep in light position.