Microstylis micrantha Gilli, Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 84/B (1983) 37, fig. 28 (non Hook. f.)
Type: Gilli 465 (holo W)
Terrestrial, long creeping, 20-30 cm high. Rhizome slender, elongated, covered with distant, clasping sheaths, rooting; roots long, flexuose. Stems c. 10 cm apart, the leafy part 4-10 cm long, base covered with sheaths, the upper part 3-6-leaved. Leaves erect-patent, petiolate, obliquely broadly lanceolate, acuminate, blade 3-7 by 1-2 cm, base cuneate; petiole dilated at the base, sheathing the stem, 2-4 cm long. Inflorescence erect or slightly curved, angular, glabrous. Raceme rather densely many-flowered, 8-13 cm long. Floral bracts deflexed, lanceolate, acuminate, 0.5-1.2 cm long. Flowers patent, glabrous. Median sepal linear, obtuse, 0.55 by 0.1 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely elliptic, obtuse, 0.2 cm long and wide. Petals linear, obtuse, apex minutely notched, 0.5 by 0.05 cm. Lip crescent-shaped, sagittate, 0.7 by 0.4 cm, in front on either side with 5 short triangular teeth, apex with a tooth which is a little larger than the lateral teeth. Column short. Ovary narrow, including the pedicel 0.5-0.7 cm long. (After Gilli, 1983)
Colours: Flowers pale green.
Habitat: Terrestrial in upper montane forest; 2950 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 448-176M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.
Notes: We consider this to be a species of Malaxis, but to the best of our knowledge there is no name available under this genus.