Mediocalcar versteegii J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19 (1908) 28
Type: Versteeg 1640 (holo BO; iso K, L, P, U)
Pseudobulbs terete to cylindrical, 3-25 mm apart, 1.5-3.5(-5) cm long, 3-6 mm across, largely enveloping the rhizome; free top prostrate to suberect, 1-7(-10) mm long. Leaves one, occasionally two per pseudobulb (all specimens predominantly one-leaved); sessile to subpetiolate, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, rarely linear (index 4-11.5(-20)), (3-)5-10(-13) cm by (5-)9-14(-29) mm; flat; glabrous; apex obtuse, more or less obliquely bilobed, mucronate, with the mucro shorter than the lobules; coriaceous. Inflorescences solitary, synanthous or more frequently heteranthous, usualy both on the same specimen. Peduncle 10-20 mm long, at the apex with a triangular bract 1 mm long. Pedicel and ovary 15-21 mm long. Flowers urceolate-globose, 8.5-13.5(-16) mm long. Synsepalum 9-16 mm long and 13-18 mm wide when cut open and flattened; free tips slightly spreading to reflexed , 3-4(-5.5) mm long, apices obtuse to subacute. Lateral sepals smooth or slightly keeled. Petals narrowly lanceolate or oblanceolate (index 4.6-6), 7-11.5 by 1.2-2 mm; apex acute to acuminate; 1- or 3-nerved. Lip 7-12.7 by 2-5 mm in natural position, the blade broadly ovate when flattened; claw 2.2-4.5 by 2-3 mm, auricles rather conspicuous to very conspicuous, 1-2 mm long, recurved; apex acute to acuminate, porrect to recurved; margins erect, clasping the column; spur broadly cylindrical, recurved, parallel to or making a small angle with the column, as long as the claw, or a little longer or a little shorter; 2.5-4 mm long, 2-3.7 mm wide just below the mouth. Column broadly clavate, 3.5-5(-8) mm long, 2.5 mm wide at the apex, foot short to rather long, 1-2 mm long. Fruit (immature) narrowly cylindric, 3 cm by 2 mm. (After Schuiteman, 1997)
Colours: Flowers orange-red to bright red with bright yellow or greenish yellow tips, occasionally red-brown with orange-yellow tips, red with green tips or entirely orange. Leaves and pseudobulbs dull green, the pseudobulbs sometimes bronze-green.
Habitat: Epiphyte in hill and montane forest, also terrestrial in open shrubby forest; 440-2400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 436-56M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, requires shaded position.
Notes: A widespread and variable species or species-complex. It is one of several species of Mediocalcar displaying bud-displacement, which means that the renewal bud does not arise from the base of the pseudobulb, but from halfway or even near the top. Mediocalcar versteegii subsp. versteegii usually has 1-leaved, cylindrical pseudobulbs and heteranthous inflorescences.