Mediocalcar crenulatum J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 14 (1929) 381, pl. 54, fig. 37
Type: Lam 1599 (lecto BO, chosen by van Royen 1979; iso K, L); 1642 (syn AMES, BO, L, P); 1998 (syn BO, spirit mat.)
Roots densely covered with root-hairs, 0.7-1 mm thick. Rhizome creeping, infrequently branching, 2-4 mm thick. Cataphylls 5-8, closely appressed to rather loose-fitting, apparently glabrous, subacute to acute, keeled near the tip; tips sometimes subpatent. Pseudobulbs erect to suberect, (1.5-)3-6(-10) cm apart, narrowly conical or obliquely ovoid to subcylindrical, (0.7-)1-2.5 cm long, 5-6.5 mm across at the base, c. 3 mm across at the top, base not elongated; predominantly one-leaved, two-leaved shoots not infrequent, at least in some populations; the second, uppermost leaf, if present, smaller than the first leaf. Leaves sessile to subpetiolate, narrowly elliptic (index 4-10), gradually narrowing toward the channeled base, (3.7-)5.5-11(-19) cm long, (7-)10-20(-26) mm wide; glabrous or verrucose above; margin minutely crenulate, often only near the apex; apex acute to acuminate, minutely bilobulate, mucronate, with the mucro longer than the lobules; coriaceous to carnose. Inflorescences usually in pairs, occasionally solitary, synanthous, at the base with a lanceolate scale 3-10 mm long. Peduncle 20-44 mm long, elongating to up to 70 mm in fruiting specimens, at the apex with a triangular to triangular to subulate bract 1.5-3 mm long. Pedicel and ovary 12-13 mm long. Flowers urceolate, slightly oblique, 13.5-15 mm long. Synsepalum 13-16 mm long and c. 19 mm wide when cut open and flattened; free tips only slightly spreading, 4.5-5.3 mm long, apices obtuse. Lateral sepals smooth. Petals lanceolate to narrowly elliptic (index 4.5-6.5), 11 by 1.7-2.5 mm; apex acute; 3-nerved. Lip 11-12.5 mm long, the blade broadly ovate when flattened; claw 5 by 2.7 mm, auricles conspicuous, deflexed; apex acuminate, slightly recurved; margins erect, clasping the column; spur saccate, 1-2 mm deep. Column clavate, 8 mm long; foot conspicuous, c. 2 mm long. Fruit subclavate, c. 20 mm long, c. 4 mm across. (After Schuiteman, 1997)
Colours: Flowers bright red to orange-red, with greenish to yellowish green or yellow tips. Leaves light green to purplish green.
Habitat: Terrestrial in open subalpine vegation, also in moss cushions in montane forest; 2400-3640 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, March, August, September, October, November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 436-20M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing terrestrial, requires light position.
Notes: A species from high elevations, probably most nearly related to Mediocalcar geniculatum.