Malaxis cirrhiflora W.Kittr., Bot. Mus. Leafl. 30 (1984, publ. 1985) 96 (nom.nov.)
Basionym: Microstylis stenophylla
Terrestrial, erect, 13-25 cm high. Rhizome short, decumbent; roots elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Stem elongated, densely leafy to above the middle, terete, glabrous. Leaves erect-patent, linear, acute, somewhat narrowed towards the base, at the base dilated, clasping the stem, 5-12 cm long, near the middle 0.3-0.5 cm wide. Inflorescence slender, surpassing the leaves, angular, with a few small bract-like scales; rachis rather densely many-flowered, up to 9 cm long. Floral bracts deflexed, linear-lanceolate, acuminate or sharply acute, almost as long as the ovary. Flowers pendent, glabrous. Sepals broadly elliptic or broadly oblong, obtuse. Median sepal 0.35 cm long. Lateral sepals a little shorter and broader, oblique. Petals obliquely elliptic, obtuse, almost as long as the lateral sepals. Lip sagittate, 0.25 cm long [excluding the auricles], at the base 0.3 cm wide, in front broadly ovate, obtuse with a short apiculum, margins in the middle minutely serrulate, with a narrowly oblong swelling extending from the base to the apex and decurrent towards the apex, the swelling with a pit extending from the middle to just below the apex; auricles obliquely triangular subacute, subparallel, 0.15 cm long. Column short, at the apex very broad, dorsally in the middle with a broad, conical, backwards pointing, obtuse callus, glabrous, stelidia prolonged, oblique, well developed. Anther oblongoid-cucullate, obtuse. Ovary cylindrical, 6-ribbed, glabrous, including the pedicel 0.35 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers light brownish yellow, column at the apex dark bluish green.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest; 350 to 600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, April, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 431-86M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.