Ceratostylis heleocharis Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58 (1922) 74
Type: Ledermann 12813 (holo B, lost); para: Ledermann 8853
An erect, tufted, small epiphyte, 12-14 cm high. Rhizome very short. Stems slender, thin, 5-10 cm long, hardly more than 0.1 cm across, thinly terete subulate, 1-leaved. Leaves erect, filiform, 3-5 cm long, thinner than the stems, rather obtuse, usually incurved, above slightly grooved. Floral head narrow, obovoid or oblongoid, surrounded by elliptic acuminate scales, inflorescences several, 1-flowered, very shortly pedunculate. Floral bract elliptic acuminate, hyaline, about as long as the ovary. Flowers outside at the base sparsely finely pilose, 0.13 cm long. Sepals elliptic, (rather) obtuse, lateral sepals dilated towards base, at the base connate; mentum short, obtuse. Petals obliquely oblong, apex subacute, glabrous, only a little shorter than the sepals. Lip broadly rhombic, in apical half contracted, almost 3-lobed, about 0.15 by 0.1 cm, lateral lobes semiovate, obtuse, mid-lobe towards the apex carnose-thickened, obtuse, semi-elliptic, with two thin, parallel keels extending from the base of the lip to the middle. Column short, less than half as long as the lip, stigma-arms semi-elliptic, foot short. Ovary subsessile, clavate, pilose, about 0.15 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1922).
Colours: Flower white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 1150-1500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 125-62M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.