Ceratostylis albiflora J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19 (1908) 11
Type: Versteeg 1525 (holo BO)
Growing in tufts. Rhizome short. Stems erect, slender, in cross section ovate, 4.58 cm long, 0.13-0.3 cm wide, apex 1-leaved, at the base covered with sheaths. Leaf erect, sublinear, acute, at the base petiolate-narrowed, conduplicate, above obtusely concave, longitudinally grooved, below keeled near the apex, 4.5-7 cm long, 0.43-0.48 cm wide; sheath 0.2-0.3 cm long. Inflorescence many-flowered, capitate, at the base surrounded by 0.4-0.45 cm long sheaths, peduncles fascicled, 1-flowered, 0.2 cm long, with obliquely tubular sheaths. Floral bracts ovate-triangular, apiculate, concave, 0.18 cm long. Flowers small, in total 0.38-0.4 cm long. Sepals dorsally sparsely pilose, parallel to the petals, apex somewhat recurved. Median sepal oblong, acute, concave, 0.25 cm long, about 0.1 cm wide. Lateral sepals at the base on one side dilated, obliquely ovate-oblong, acute, [free part] 0.27 cm long, in total 0.4 cm long, 0.14 cm wide, together with the column-foot forming a backwards-pointing, subglobose, dorsally compressed, at the base somewhat constricted, 0.13 cm long mentum. Petals lanceolate, acute, 1-nerved, 0.24 by 0.06 cm. Lip slightly wavy, short clawed, concave, in the basal part sparsely ciliolate, 3-nerved, inside with 2 ribs that are puberulous at the base and extend up to the middle of the lip, towards the apex with a third, rather indistinct rib, claw 0.06 cm long and wide, blade ovate, apex not strongly thickened, somewhat acute, concave, papillose, 0.24 cm long, 0.16 cm wide. Column short, 0.13 cm long, arms parallel, oblong, rounded, outside convex. Anther ovate, at the base bilobulate. Pollinia clavate. Column-foot slender, apex incurved, 0.06 cm long. Ovary curved, subvillose, 0.5 cm long. (After Smith, 1909)
Colours: Flower white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude 500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 125-5M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.