Macodes dendrophila Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 73
Type: Schlechter 17088 (syn B, lost); 18019 (syn B, lost); 18210 (syn B, lost; iso BO, G, K, L, NSW); 19165 (B, lost; iso G, K, L, NSW)
Epiphytic, erect, rather stout, 25-40 cm high. Rhizome usually short, stem-like; roots thick, cylindrical, flexuose, villose. Leaves 4-6, almost rosulate, erect-patent, elliptic, acuminate, at the base cuneate, gradually narrowed in the petiole, glabrous on both sides; blade 6.5-11 cm long, near the middle 3-5 cm wide; petiole dilated at the base, sheathing, 2.5-4 cm long. Peduncle with a few, distant, appressed scales, terete, glandulose-puberulous; rachis densely several- to many-flowered, up to 15 cm long, raceme c. 3.5 cm diam. across the flowers. Floral bracts ovate, acute or acuminate, glandulose-puberulous, less than half as long as the ovary. Sepals outside glandulose-puberulous. Median sepal broadly ovate, subobtuse, 0.6 cm long. Lateral sepals obliquely and broadly elliptic, obtuse, 0.7 cm long. Petals about as long as the median sepal and adhering to it along their inner margins, linear-ligulate, subfalcate, obtuse, glabrous. Lip 0.7 cm long, glabrous, at the base subquadrate-cucullate, inside with two papillae, in front 3-lobed; lateral lobes rounded-cucullate, short, unequal sized; mid-lobe longer, obovate, spathulate, obtuse. Column glabrous, below the stigma with two large, quadrate, in front truncate wings. Anther ovate-cucullate, acuminate, glabrous. Ovary shortly pedicellate, clavate, glandulose-puberulous, c. 1.4 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Leaves greyish green with thin silvery longitudinal veins and a few, mostly more or less interrupted cross veins. Flowers brown, lip and column white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest, growing in shaded positions; 1000 to 1100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, July, September, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 425-6M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, requires shaded position.