Cryptostylis maculata J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 14 (1929) 341, pl. 42, 5
Basionym: Cryptostylis arachnites var. maculata
Rhizome short, roots thick. Leaves ovate, acutely acuminate, midrib channelled above, strongly keeled below, with several curved nerves, somewhat fleshy, 7.5-9 cm long, 4.4-5 cm wide; petiole in front deeply sulcate, fleshy, 5 cm long. Inflorescence erect, laxly many-flowered, peduncle terete, 27 cm long, with 3 appressed, acuminate, veined, 2-2.5 cm long scales, rachis angular, grooved, 8 cm long. Floral bracts appressed, ovate, slender acuminate, concave, 0.85 cm long, 0.4 cm wide. Flowers 10, erect, 3 cm wide, 3.2 cm long. Median sepal facing downwards, slightly incurved, tubular because of the inrolled margins, when flattened linear, acute, 3-nerved, 1.4 cm long, 0.23 cm wide. Lateral sepals divergent, widely patent, similar to the median sepal, subobtuse, apiculate, 1.5 cm long, 0.24 cm wide. Petals deflexed; about parallel to the median sepal; similar to but smaller than the sepals, sharply acute, 1-nerved, at the base with two short additional nerves, 0.9 cm long, 0.14 cm wide. Lip erect, in front view subrhombic-oblong, convex, with recurved margins, at the base cucullate, when flattened at the base dilated, equilaterally trapeziform, contracted into an ovate-triangular, acute blade, in total 1.8 cm long, at the base 0.9 cm wide, above the base broadly constricted, narrowed part 1.15 cm long, 0.67 cm wide. Column very short, recurved, with the ovary making an almost right angle, lateral lobes of the clinandrium rounded, convex, verruculose-crenulate. Anther cucullate, broadly ovate, 0.23 cm long, connective longitudinally ribbed, at the apex elongated into a conical, obtusely recurved, beak-like process. Rostellum broadly triangular, rather abruptly bidentate. Stigma prominent, suborbicular, 0.2 cm wide. Ovary erect, apex recurved, 6-grooved, 1.1-1.3 cm long. (After Smith, 1929)
Colours: Leaf and petiole dotted greenish white. Sepals and petals green, lip purple with a few blackish purple dots towards the apex.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland and montane forest. Altitude 500-1800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 192-29M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm to intermediate growing terrestrial, keep in shade.