Ceratostylis scirpoides

Ceratostylis scirpoides Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 138

Type: Schlechter 14359 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BO, BR, BRI 2x, K, NSW, P)

Rhizome very short, covered with emarcescent sheaths, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, filiform, terete, glabrous, 5-16 cm by 1 mm, 1-leaved, at the base covered with long, emarcescent sheaths. Leaves usually terete, filiform, sometimes a little flattened and narrowly linear on upper side, 3-9 by 0.1-0.2 cm, apex acute. Inflorescences in a dense, few- to several-flowered capitulum. Floral bracts lanceolate to oblong, as long as or a little shorter than the ovary. Pedicel and ovary 0.2-0.3 cm long, minutely pubescent. Flowers c. 5 mm long. Sepals outside near the base minutely pubescent. Dorsal sepal narrowly lanceolate-ligulate, 0.35 cm long, apex acute. Lateral sepals oblique, much dilated at the base, 0.35 cm long, mentum spur-like, 0.2 cm long, widened in apical half, obtuse. Petals obliquely narrowly lanceolate-ligulate, 0.2 cm long, apex acute. Lip clawed, elliptic-spathulate, 0.4 by 0.15 cm, with 2 parallel basal keels extending to the middle, subacute, somewhat swollen near the apex. Column very short, stelidia surpassing the anther by a third of its length. Anther in front minutely bilobulate. (After Schlechter, 1905).

Colours: Flower pure white, the swollen tip of the lip sulphur-yellow.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 1000 m.

Flowering time in the wild: April.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 125-133M.JPG

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, grow in light shade.

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