Malaxis carinatifolia (J.J.Sm.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 79
Basionym: Microstylis carinatifolia
Stem at the base creeping, rooting, erect, short, carnose, 2.5-4 cm long, 5-7-leaved, at the base with a few sheaths. Leaves erect-patent, obliquely linear, gradually narrowed towards the apex, 6.5-15 by 0.45-1 cm, acute, above obtusely channelled, on either side of the mid-rib strongly convex, dorsally sharply keeled, at the base conduplicate; sheath short, clasping the stem. Inflorescence erect, densely many-flowered, peduncle winged-angular, 4.5-7 cm long; rachis similar to the peduncle, 6-10 cm long. Floral bracts reflexed, subulate, up to 0.7 cm long, upper ones smaller. Flowers widely opening, 0.58 cm wide, 0.65 cm long. Median sepal ovate-elliptic, obtuse, strongly convex, 3-nerved, 0.37 by 0.23 cm. Lateral sepals hidden by the lip, broadly obliquely subovate-elliptic, broadly obtuse, concave, margins convex and strongly revolute, 2-3-nerved, when not flattened 0.3 by 0.25 cm. Petals falcate-incurved, when not flattened sublinear, margins strongly revolute, almost tubular, strongly convex, when flattened narrowly elliptic, obtuse, retuse, 1-2-nerved, 0.33-0.34 by 0.14 cm. Lip 3-lobed, auriculate, in outline transversely elliptic, when flattened 0.5 cm long, 0.58 cm wide, lateral lobes rather large, entire, in front broadly obtuse and with narrowly incurved margins, mid-lobe separated from the lateral lobes by an acute sinus, at the apex incurved, when flattened surpassing the lateral lobes, transversely elliptic, bifid, 0.13 by 0.24 cm, lobules along their inner margins overlapping, subquadrangular, at the apex retuse-truncate; auricles broad, obliquely semi-elliptic, broadly obtuse, 0.16 cm long; pit narrow with thickened, almost tooth-like raised margins. Column short, 0.15 cm long; clinandrium concave, making an obtuse angle with the column; wings broad, contiguous, broadly obtuse. Anther very small, shorter than the column-wings, transversely subreniform, at the apex truncate, 0.07 cm wide. Ovary pedicellate, , somewhat curved, 0.47-0.75 cm long. Fruit (immature) erect-patent, clavate. (After Smith, 1915)
Colours: Leaves light green or bluish green. Flowers light yellowish brownvelyellow-orange.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest on serpentine hills; 300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 431-75M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.