Malaxis grandifolia (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 80
Basionym: Microstylis grandifolia
Terrestrial, erect, stout, 50-65 cm high. Rhizome short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, finely villose. Stem rather thick, cylindrical, short, densely leafy, 10-12 cm long. Leaves 7-10, erect-patent, petiolate; blade obliquely elliptic, acuminate, at the base cuneate, glabrous, 16-25 cm long, 4.5-6.5 cm wide, petiole dilated at the base, sheathing, 7-9 cm long. Inflorescence straight or nearly so, angular, with a few small, distant, bract-like scales, glabrous. Inflorescence densely many-flowered, elongated, cylindrical, up to 25 cm long, c. 2.2 cm diam. across the flowers. Floral bracts deflexed, lanceolate, acuminate, shorter than the ovary and pedicel. Flowers patent, glabrous. Sepals oblong, obtuse, margins revolute. Median sepal 0.45 cm long. Lateral sepals a little shorter and broader. Petals obliquely linear-ligulate, obtuse, slightly narrower towards the base, 0.4 cm long. Lip in outline crescent-shaped; blade 0.35 cm long, at the base 0.4 cm wide, in apical half 3-lobed; lateral lobes with the outer angle triangular, acute, short, the other angle split into three teeth, of which the outer one is distinctly shorter than the others, the two inner teeth lanceolate-subulate, sharply acute; mid-lobe divided into two teeth similar to those of the lateral lobes and equally large, basal auricles obliquely oblong, subobtuse, 0.3 cm long; near the base of the lip with a deep, hemispherical pit, its thickened margins horseshoe-shaped. Column short, in front dilated. Anther reniform-cucullate, obtuse. Ovary with pedicel glabrous, 6-ribbed, c. 0.8 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers wine red, tips of the auricles bright light yellow.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland and montane forest; 180 to 500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, August, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 431-158M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.