Ceratostylis ficinioides

Ceratostylis ficinioides Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 247

Type: Schlechter 20218 (holo B, AMES, BO, K)

Epiphytic, erect, slender, caespitose, 18-23 cm high. Rhizome very short. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, hispidulous. Stems filiform, very slender, at the base covered with lanceolate, acuminate sheaths 13-18 cm long, 1-1.25 mm across, 1-leaved. Leaf erect, subulate, filiform, acute, glabrous, terete, adaxially slightly sulcate, 4-6 cm long. Inflorescences several arranged into a capitulum, covered with lanceolate, apiculate sheaths. Flowers erect-patent. Bracts short, elliptic, apiculate, glabrous. Sepals oblong, obtuse, outside at the base rather sparsely puberulous, 3.25 mm long. Lateral sepals at the base conspicuously extended and connate along the anterior margin; mentum oblong, obtuse, 0.2 cm long. Petals obliquely and more narrowly lanceolate, acute, glabrous, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip 3.75 mm long, in basal part almost claw-like narrowed, oblong-spathulate, obtuse, in front carnose-thickened, basal margins minutely and densely ciliolate, inside with two parallel, ciliolate lamellae, extending from the base to near the middle. Column short, glabrous, arms, obliquely oblong, blunt, a little more than half as long as the lip; foot short, apex somewhat incurved. Anther semiglobose, dorsally umbonate, in front broadly obtuse. Ovary subsessile, cylindrical, puberulous, about 0.3 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).

Colours: Flower reddish, petals white, lip at the apex light yellow.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 800 m.

Flowering time in the wild: September.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 125-50M.JPG

Cultivation: Warm-intermediate growing epiphyte, keep in light shade.

%LABEL% (%SOURCE%)