Malaxis ridleyana P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 84
Basionym: Microstylis acuminata
Stem carnose, 10 cm long, 3- to 4-leaved. Leaves elliptic, ovate, long acuminate, tip acute, rounded at the base, to 16 cm by 4 cm; petiole 4 cm long, broad, sheathing. Inflorescence c. 20 cm long, carrying many distant flowers in the upper half. Floral bracts linear, acuminate, 1.1 cm long, very narrow, deflexed. Sepals linear-oblong, obtuse, narrow, 0.4 cm long. Petals linear, obtuse, shorter and narrower than the sepals and half as wide. Lip subquadrangular, at the apex cuneate, cuspidate, the cusp rather long and minutely bifid; basal auricles long, acuminate, falcate. Column curved, rather long, with short, broad, oblong, rounded apical wings. Pedicel and ovary filiform, 1 cm long. (After Ridley, 1916)
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Terrestrial in montane forest; 759 to 2519 m.
Flowering time in the wild: Not recorded.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 431-372M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate to cool growing terrestrial.