Microtatorchis collina Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 1002
Type: Schlechter 20356 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, very small, stemless, hardly 2 cm high; roots filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Leaves c. 3, elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, 1-1.3 cm long, in the middle 0.25-0.3 cm wide. Inflorescence laxly several-flowered, almost twice as long as the leaves; rachis angular, flexuose. Floral bracts ovate-deltoid, apiculate, as long as the ovary, at the base on either side with a minute tooth. Flowers minute, glabrous. Sepals and petals connate to above the middle into a bell-shaped tube, 0.18 cm long, outside keeled, free parts ovate-lanceolate, subobtuse. Lateral sepals oblique. Lip in outline lanceolate, about as long as the sepals, in front of the mouth of the spur laterally on either side with a small cavity, apex subacute, margins somewhat incurved, apex itself provided with a tooth-like, abruptly reflexed appendage; spur broadly ellipsoid, geniculate-incurved, one fourth as long as the lip blade. Column with two long auricles, very short. Ovary triangular in cross-section, c. 0.08 cm long, glabrous. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers initially green, later yellowish.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 150 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 449-12M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.