Cryptostylis carinata J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 11 (1912) 134
Type: Gjellerup 874 (holo BO 2x; iso L)
Rhizome very short, Roots thick. Young shoots 1-leaved, sheathing at the base. Leaf petiolate, elliptic-lanceolate or subovate-oblong, very sharply acuminate, base acute or obtuse, with the mid-rib above grooved, underneath strongly prominent, reticulate-veined, 10 by 3.2-4.3 cm; petiole subterete, in the basal part grooved, 5.5-8.5 cm long. Inflorescence erect, laxly 4-9-flowered. Peduncle 16-18 cm long, with c. 6 small, tubular, subulate-acuminate, to 2 cm long, above more distant scales; rachis triangular, glabrous, 4-9 cm long. Floral bracts appressed, ovate, long thinly acuminate, margins somewhat irregular, at the base 3-, above the base 5-nerved, 1 by 0.4 cm. Flowers large, widely opening, 3.2 cm wide, 4 cm long. Median sepal pointing downwards, margins revolute, tubular, linear, gradually narrowed towards the apex, long subulate-apiculate, 3-nerved, 2 by 0.35 cm. Lateral sepals patent, making an obtuse angle, slightly falcate, obliquely linear, long subulate-acuminate, dilated at the base, margins involute, tubular, 3-nerved, 2 cm long, in the basal part 0.33 cm wide. Petals widely patent, margins involute, tubular, linear, acutely acuminate, at the base somewhat dilated, 1-nerved, slightly over 1 cm long, 0.15 cm wide. Lip erect, sigmoid, with a strong keel from the middle of the hypochile to the middle of the blade (mid-lobe), ending in a tooth, dorsally glabrous, with a thin basal groove, in front along a median band and along the margins velutinous-papillose; hypochile strongly cucullate-concave, margins recurved and convex, clasping the column, blade curved upwards, base contracted, when not flattened ovate, acuminate, concave. Lip when flattened in total 2.4 cm long; hypochile reniform with rounded basal lobules, 0.4 cm long, including the basal lobules 0.6 cm long, 0.98 cm wide; mid-lobe elliptic, rather abruptly acuminate, acute, 1.8 by 0.08 cm. Column very short, recurved, making an acute angle with the ovary, 0.2 cm long; clinandrium with a longitudinal rib. Anther cucullate, quadrangular-ovate, 0.2 cm long, in basal part longitudinally grooved, connective in apical part prominent with elongated apex, forming a short conical, papillose beak. Rostellum broadly notched, bidentate. Ovary dorsally compressed, 6-grooved, 1.2 cm long. Fruit shortly pedicellate, erect, elongated-fusiform, slightly clavate, 6-grooved, with the flower attached to it, dehiscing along 6 slits, 1.4-1.5 cm long. (After Smith, 1915).
Colours: Flower light yellow, lip spotted red-brown, especially near the base.
Habitat: Terrestrial. Altitude 800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June, July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 192-11M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.