Microtatorchis clavicalcarata J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 14 (1929) 498, pl. 83, fig. 136
Type: Feuilletau de Bruyn 89 (holo BO; iso L)
Stem short, to c. 1.5 cm long; roots elongated, thin. Leaves c. 4-6, obliquely linear-lanceolate, mostly more or less falcate, unequally acutely bidentate, with a longer mucro between the apical teeth, at the base gradually narrowed and channelled, 3-nerved, when dried membranous, 2.6-4.5 cm long, when dried 0.26-0.5 cm wide; sheaths short, conduplicate, at the base tubular, probably not articulated with the leaf-blades. Inflorescences axillary, erect, soon surpassing the leaves, producing flowers for a long time, laxly many-flowered; peduncle thin, in the basal part terete, above narrowly winged, 2-3.5 cm long, with small bract-like scales; rachis elongated, flexuose, sharply winged, compressed, 5.5-15 cm long, to 0.15 cm wide, at the nodes on one side abruptly interrupted and carrying a bract with a flower, in front of the flower narrowly hollowed out, internodes 0.28-0.8 cm long. Floral bracts distichous, widely patent, triangular, acute, concave, dorsally sharply keeled, 0.14-0.2 cm long. Flowers very small, patent, somewhat fleshy, with the sepals and petals at their base connate, patent, recurved, star-shaped, 0.5 cm diam. Median sepal subulate, at the apex shortly conical, subacute, slightly channelled, dorsally convex, 1-nerved, in total 0.3 cm long, free part 0.25 by 0.02 cm. Lateral sepals similar but oblique, in total 0.34 cm long, free part 0.27 by 0.07 cm. Petals smaller, triangular-subulate, acute, free part at the base on either side angular, 1-nerved, in total 0.28 cm long, free part 0.2 by 0.08 cm. Lip simple, spurred, porrect, somewhat fleshy, narrowly triangular, acute, in the apical part strongly laterally compressed, almost ensiform, at the apex seemingly obliquely cut off, with the upper side longer than the lower side, inside up to the middle with a small channel that is gradually narrowed towards the apex, with the margins incurved at the base, at the base with a broadly ovate-triangular concavity, below this near the mouth of the spur with a smaller elliptic concavity with raised margins, lip when not flattened 0.26 cm long, 0.1 cm wide at the base; spur elongated, at the base parallel with the ovary, strongly incurved, clavate, in basal half slender, upper half obliquely inflated laterally compressed, obtusely apiculate, when not flattened 0.2 cm long, when flattened 0.32 cm long. Column very short, 3-lobed, clinandrium (mid-lobe) dorsally strongly convex, auricles (the lateral lobes) longer, rounded, inner surface stigmatic. Anther cucullate, laterally compressed, with a rather large broad, obtuse appendage. Pollinia 2, elliptic, stipe slender. Ovary pedicellate, rather thick, 6-grooved, 0.28 cm long. (After Smith, 1929)
Colours: Flowers white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 449-11M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.