Malaxis undulata (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 85
Basionym: Microstylis undulata
Terrestrial, very small, erect, 10-15 cm high. Rhizome stem-like, short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Stem elongated, terete, glabrous, up to 15-leaved, covered with clasping leaf-sheaths. Leaves erect-patent, obliquely linear-ligulate, apiculate, glabrous, somewhat narrowed at the base, margins slightly undulate, 2.5-4.5 cm long, near the middle 0.4-0.7 cm wide. Inflorescence erect, short, surpassing the upper leaves; peduncle angular, glabrous, rachis laxly 4-10-flowered, up to 3 cm long. Floral bracts pendent, lanceolate, acute, shorter than the ovary, glabrous. Flowers not resupinate, patent. Sepals oblong, obtuse, glabrous. Median sepal 0.4 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, a little shorter. Petals oblique, narrowly rhombic-spathulate, subobtuse, glabrous, 0.35 cm long. Lip hastate-auriculate, 0.35 cm long [excluding the auricles], at the base 0.45 cm wide, in front broadly ovate or subreniform, indistinctly 5-angular, subobtuse, margins entire, with a horseshoe-shaped swelling extending from the base to just below the apex; auricles obliquely oblong, obtuse, 0.3 cm long. Column short, dorsally in the middle with a triangular, depressed outgrowth; stelidia short, unequally bilobulate. Anther reniform, in front quadrate-prolonged, broadly obtuse, glabrous. Ovary with pedicel glabrous, lightly 6-ribbed, c. 0.4 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers yellowish green, apex of column dark greenish blue.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lower montane forest, in deep shade; 600 to 700 m.
Flowering time in the wild: October, November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 431-449M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm to intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.