Cryptostylis apiculata J.J.Sm., Meded. Rijks-Herb. 23 (1915) 2
Type: Pulle 412 (holo BO; iso L)
Rhizome short. Sheaths large, acuminate, to 5 cm long. Roots thick. Leaf erect, petiolate, ovate, acutely long acuminate, base rounded and shortly contracted into a petiole, with curved veins, laxly reticulate-veined, mid-rib dorsally prominent, when dried membranous, 12.5-13.25 by 4.2-6.2 cm; petiole 7-9 cm long. Inflorescence erect, much longer than the leaf, laxly many-flowered, peduncle 23.5-24.75 cm long, with c. 3 small, tubular, acutely acuminate, to 3.1-3.4 cm long scales; rachis glabrous, 12-29 cm long. Floral bracts ovate-triangular, subulate-acuminate, 5-nerved, to 1.4 cm long. Flowers 4.1 cm long. Median sepal pointing downwards, linear, margins involute, elongated-subulate, acute, 3-nerved, 1.85 cm long, at the base 0.33 cm wide. Lateral sepals similar to the median sepal, widely patent, 2 cm long, 0.26 cm wide. Petals making an acute angle with the sepals, subulate, margins involute, sharply acute, 2-nerved, 1.2 by 0.15 cm. Lip erect, oblong, fairly abruptly tapering to an oblong-triangular, narrowly obtuse, acuminate point, at the base with an ovate-triangular concavity, in basal part with recurved margins, convex, inside entirely velutinous-puberulous, 5-nerved, in total 2.2 cm long, 0.8 cm wide, acumen 0.38 cm long. Column sited in the basal cavity of the lip, erect, 0.3 cm long, auricles triangular. Anther erect, cucullate, ovate-triangular, at the apex conical, obtuse and slightly recurved, papillose, 0.25 cm long. Stigma thick, suborbicular, underneath convex, above concave. Ovary 1.8 cm long. (After Smith, 1915).
Colours: Leaves with blackish spots. Sepals and petals green, lip red-brown with darker spots.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lower montane forest. Altitude 1100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 192-4M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, keep in shade.