Cleisostoma litoreum (Schltr.) Garay, Bot. Mus. Leafl. 23, 4 (1972) 172
Basionym: Sarcanthus litoreus
Epiphytic, pendulous, up to 45 cm long. Roots filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems densely leafy, covered with densely rugulose leaf-sheaths, 0.6 cm diam. Leaves erect-patent, strap-shaped, unequally and obtusely bilobulate, somewhat carnose, 11-17 cm long, near the middle 1.5-1.7 cm long. Inflorescence pendulous, slender pedunculate, unbranched, rather laxly 15-20-flowered, as long as or shorter than the leaves. Floral bracts deltoid, acute, much shorter than the ovary. Flowers glabrous. Sepals patent, elliptic, obtuse, 0.4 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely oblong, obtuse, clearly shorter than the sepals, 0.35 cm long. Lip 3-lobed, almost as long as the petals, lateral lobes erect, obliquely rhombic, along the upper margin sublobulate, mid-lobe oblong, obtuse, clearly longer; spur slightly recurved, conical, obtuse, inside dorsally with a short trilobulate callus, inside the throat in front with a lamella. Anther ovate-cucullate, subacuminate, base subcordate; pollinia globose, stipe thin, towards the pollinia a little widened, viscidium minute, orbicular. Ovary-cylindrical, glabrous, 0.5 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914, as Sarcanthus litoreus Schltr.).
Colours: Sepals and petals greenish, lip white with a small violet spot on the lateral lobes.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest in exposed positions. Altitude 0-550 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 155-126M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte, keep in light position.