Malaxis seleniglossa

Malaxis seleniglossa (Schltr.) L.O.Williams, Bot. Mus. Leafl. 12 (1946) 156

Basionym: Microstylis seleniglossa

Epiphytic, very small, 8-15 cm high. Rhizome very short; Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Stem straight or nearly so, many-leaved. Leaves erect-patent, 4-7, petiolate; blade obliquely lanceolate, acuminate, at the base subcuneate, glabrous, 2.5-5.5 cm long, below the middle 0.8-1.5 cm wide; petiole dilated at the base, sheathing, 0.5-1 cm long. Inflorescence shortly pedunculate, usually before anthesis hardly surpassing the upper leaves, rather densely 5-20-flowered. Floral bracts pendent, lanceolate, acute, a little shorter than the ovary. Flowers patent, glabrous. Median sepal oblong, obtuse, 0.3 cm long. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, obtuse, a little shorter than the median sepal. Petals obliquely linear, subobtuse, about as long as the median sepal. Lip crescent shaped-sagittate, in front semiorbicular, 0.2 cm long [excluding the auricles], at the base 0.25 cm wide, obtuse, with a horseshoe-shaped callus inside just above the base decurrent to above the middle; auricles subparallel, subfalcate-lanceolate, acute, almost 0.25 cm long. Column short, dorsally in the middle with a very small, depressed, backwards-pointing outgrowth, stelidia elongated, obliquely lobulate. Anther ovate-cucullate, obtuse. Ovary subclavate, slightly 6-ribbed, glabrous, including the pedicel 0.5 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)

Colours: Flowers greenish yellow, lip lightly tinged brownish, column at the apex dark greenish blue.

Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest, growing in shaded positions; 1000 to 1700 m.

Flowering time in the wild: April, July.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 431-394M.JPG.

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, requires shaded position.

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