Malaxis lata (J.J.Sm.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 81
Basionym: Microstylis lata
Stem short, erect, rooting, with short internodes, densely many-leaved, 3.5 cm long, internodes 0.3 cm long. Leaves c. 9, obliquely oblong- to lanceolate-ovate, slightly falcate, gradually narrowed towards the apex, 2.4-4.3 by 1.2-1.5 cm, obtuse, apiculate, distinctly crispate, the 3 main nerves grooved above, keeled below, above between the nerves convex; petiole channelled, abaxially 3-angular, including the short tubular sheath 1.2 cm long. Inflorescence erect, laxly many-flowered, peduncle narrowly winged-angular, over 10 cm long, with a small bract-like sheath; rachis winged-ribbed, 9.5 cm long. Floral bracts reflexed, lanceolate-triangular, acute, concave, to slightly more than 0.3 cm long. Flowers small, 0.38 cm wide. Sepals and petals strongly recurved and convex. Median sepal elliptic, obtuse, 3-nerved, 0.36 by 0.22 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely elliptic, rounded, with strongly recurved margins, 3-nerved, almost 0.3 cm long, 0.2 cm wide. Petals somewhat obliquely lanceolate, obtuse, strongly convex, 1-nerved, 0.32 by 0.1 cm. Lip concave, margins and apex incurved, 3-nerved, when flattened in outline transversely quadrangular, 0.26 cm long, including the auricles 0.4 cm long, almost 0.5 cm wide, pit subtriangular concave, mid-lobe in outline equilaterally trapezium-shaped, 0.5 cm long, slightly more than 0.1 cm wide, almost to the middle divided into two widely separated, slightly falcate-triangular, subobtuse teeth with a rounded sinus in between, on either side with c. 4 subulate to triangular teeth that become smaller away from the mid-lobe, the inner teeth about as long as the mid-lobe; basal auricles widely separated, rather short, obliquely triangular, narrowly obtuse, 0.13 cm long. Column short, dorsally convex, 0.12 cm long, clinandrium with making an obtuse angle with the dorsal side of the column, wings porrect, slightly incurved, surpassing the anther, oblong, obtuse; rostellum membranous, shorter than the wings. Anther slightly cucullate, transverse, reniform, obtuse, almost 0.05 cm wide. Ovary pedicellate, , conspicuously 6-ribbed, 0.25 cm long. (After Smith, 1929)
Colours: Leaves dark violet above, dirty violet green below, petiole violet. Inflorescence pale green with a little violet, bracts dirty green. Flowers yellow, changing to orange; column light yellow. Fruit dirty green.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest; 50 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 431-201M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.