Lecanorchis neglecta Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 33
Type: Schlechter 14355 (syn B, lost; K); 20058 (syn B, lost)
Terrestrial, erect, usually unbranched, holomycotrophic, 25-40 cm high. Rhizome erect, becoming woody. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Stem rigid, terete, glabrous, with widely spaced, small, scale-like, ovate, subacute sheaths. Rachis short, 2-5-flowered, erect. Floral bracts ovate-deltoid, acute, minute. Flowers erect or suberect. Sepals ligulate, obtuse, glabrous, 1.8 cm long. Lateral slightly oblique. Petals similar to the sepals but a little narrower and a little shorter, oblique. Lip adnate to the basal third of the column, at the base cuneate, in apical fifth 3-lobed, 1.8 cm long, between the apices of the lateral lobes 0.7 cm wide, margins above the middle denticulate; lateral lobes ovate-triangular, obtuse, much surpassing the column, mid-lobe twice as large, semiorbicular, margins sinuate-denticulate, with an oblong cushion-like swelling extending from base to apex, which is covered with large subulate papillae. Column slender, glabrous, c. 1 cm long, clinandrium large, dorsally 3-denticulate. Anther cucullate-quadrangular, slightly 5-umbonate. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, c. 1.5 cm long; calyculus short, minutely 6-lobulate. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Stem brown. Flowers light violet.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lower montane forest; 800 to 1000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 399-24M.JPG.
Cultivation: Parasite on fungi, impossible to cultivate under normal conditions.