Malaxis ophrydis (J.Koenig) Ormerod in Seidenf., Descr. Epidendr. Koenig (1995) 18
Basionym: Epidendrum ophrydis
Pseudobulbs close together, erect, elongated, tapering to the apex, in cross-section elliptic, fleshy, c. 12 cm long, 2.3 cm diam., 4- to 5-leaved, in the basal part covered with sharply angular cataphylls. Leaves petiolate, obliquely oblong, acute, at the base strongly oblique, with undulate margins, with 6-9 main veins that are grooved above, sharply keeled below, between the veins convex, herbaceous, up to c. 24 by 10 cm; petiole broadly channelled, sharply 3-gonous, c. 4 cm long; sheaths tubular, angular, c. 3 cm long. Inflorescence erect, densely many-flowered, up to 52 cm long, c. 1 cm diam. across the flowers, cylindrical. Peduncle many-winged, c. 24 cm long, 0.5 cm diam; rachis longitudinally ribbed. Floral bracts reflexed, subulate, 0.45 cm long. Flowers 0.35 cm across. Median sepal lanceolate, obtuse, strongly convex, curved, 0.3 by 0.1 cm. Lateral sepals oblong, somewhat oblique, obtuse, convex, curved, 0.3 by 0.15 cm. Petals almost linear, convex, curved, 0.35 by 0.06 cm. Lip strongly concave, 3-lobed in front, at the base fleshy, inside with some conical papillae, 5-veined when flattened 0.18 cm long and wide; lateral lobes short, triangular, obtuse; mid-lobe longer, oblong, obtuse, fleshy. Column short, straight, flattened, 0.15 cm long; stigma narrow, transverse. Anther transversely broadly elliptic. Ovary with pedicel 0.37 cm long, 6-ribbed. fruit erect, oblongoid, obtuse, deeply 6-grooved, the ribs warty, 1 cm long, shortly pedicellate. (After Smith, 1905, as Microstylis latifolia (Sm.) J.J.Sm.)
Colours: Sepals and petals pale green, soon turning pale brown, the sepals with a grass-green mid-vein. Lip grass-green.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest, sometimes on logs; 40 to 700 m.
Flowering time in the wild: March, April, May, November.
Distribution: Malesia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, Lesser Sunda Is., Moluccas, New Guinea, Philippines), tropical Asia, Australia, New Caledonia.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 431-302M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.