Mediocalcar paradoxum (Kraenzl.) Schltr. subsp. robustum (Schltr.) Schuit., Orchid Monogr. 8 (1997) 57, fig. 18
Basionym: Mediocalcar robustum
Roots densely covered with root-hairs, 1 mm thick. Cataphylls 5-7, closely appressed, tubular, subglabrous, obtuse to subacute, sometimes emarginate, keeled near the tip. Pseudobulbs (1-) 3-7.5 cm apart, obliquely conical, 1-2.5 cm long, 5-10 mm across at the base; base more or less elongated. Leaves sessile, narrowly elliptic (index 4.5-11), (3-) 6-17 cm by (8-) 10-29 mm; apex subacute, mucronate, with the mucro as long as or longer than the lobules; coriaceous. Inflorescences solitary or more frequently in pairs. Peduncle 2.5-3 cm long, at the apex with a triangular, acuminate bract 1 mm long. Pedicel and ovary 15-30 mm long. Flowers urceolate to broadly urceolate, oblique, 11-13 mm long. Synsepalum 12-14 mm long and 17.5-23 mm wide when cut open and flattened; free tips only slightly spreading, obtuse to subacute, c. 4.5 mm long. Lateral sepals smooth or more or less keeled. Petals linear-lanceolate or oblanceolate (index 4-5.5), 8-9 by 1.5-2 mm; apex acute to acuminate; 3-nerved. Lip 8.5-9.5 by c. 4 mm in natural position, the blade broadly ovate when flattened, more or less obscurely three-lobed; claw 2.5-3.8 by c. 2 mm, auricles more or less conspicuous, reflexed; apex acute to acuminate, straight or slightly reflexed; margins erect, clasping the column; spur recurved, 2-3.8 mm long, 1.5-2.5 mm wide just below the mouth. Column clavate, 4.5-6 mm long, c. 2.5 mm wide at the apex, foot short to rather long, 0.5-2 mm long. Fruit narrowly ellipsoid, 27 by 5 mm. (After Schuiteman, 1997)
Colours: Flowers red with yellow or greenish yellow tips.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane and montane forest; 800-2000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, May, July, September, October.
Distribution: Malesia (Sulawesi, Moluccas, New Guinea), Solomon Islands, Ponape.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 436-63M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, requires shaded position.
Notes: One of the coarser taxa of Mediocalcar, with obliquely conical, 1-leaved pseudobulbs that do not completely envelope the rhizome but clasp it like a saddle. Otherwise it is not very different from Mediocalcar arfakense, which has L-shaped pseudobulbs, of which the basal part completely envelopes the rhizome.