Malaxis stolleana (Schltr.) W.Kittr., Bot. Mus. Leafl. 30 (1984, publ. 1985) 97
Basionym: Microstylis stolleana
Terrestrial herb. Stem decumbent or ascending, to 30 cm long, 9-10-leaved, cylindrical. Leaves erect-patent or suberect, petiolate; blade obliquely ovate-lanceolate, 1.5-2.5 by 0.8-1.4 cm, subobtuse acuminate, base almost round; petiole at the base dilated, sheathing, 0.4-0.7 cm long. Inflorescence suberect, angular, much exceeding the leaves, to 60 cm tall; rachis rather laxly many-flowered, slightly more than half as long as the peduncle. Floral bracts decurved, lanceolate, acuminate, almost as long as the pedicellate ovary. Flowers erect-patent, almost 0.4 cm diam. Sepals ovate-elliptic, obtuse, the lateral sepals a little wider than the median sepal. Petals obliquely ligulate, obtuse, a little shorter than the median sepal. Lip at the base deeply sagittate; blade quadrangular, above the middle 3-lobed, lateral lobes tridentate, with the lower tooth triangular, acuminate, the two upper teeth lanceolate-falcate, acute, a little longer; mid-lobe elliptic, at the apex shortly bifid, exceeding the teeth of the lateral lobes by one half; basal pit narrowly oblong, at the base surrounded by a carnose semicircular lamella, at the apex provided with a Y-shaped callus that is decurrent to above the middle of the mid-lobe. Column short. Ovary shortly pedicellate, 6-ribbed, 0.35-0.4 cm long.(After Schlechter, 1922)
Colours: Stems pale red. Leaves light green, reddish on underside. Flowers greenish white.
Habitat: Terrestrial in montane forest; 1400 to 1500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: August.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 431-417M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.