Microtatorchis triangulipetala J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 18 (1935) 78, pl. 16, fig. 53
Type: Docters van Leeuwen 9970 (holo BO)
Plant very small. Stem short; roots numerous, terete, underneath slightly flattened, somewhat twisted, to 10 cm long, 0.08-0.1 cm diam. Leaves c. 2-5, lanceolate-linear, frequently more or less falcate, acute or subobtuse, apiculate, at the base narrowed and conduplicate, above on either side of the small longitudinal median channel slightly convex, keeled below, somewhat carnose, 1-1.5 by 0.2-0.3 cm; sheaths very short. Inflorescences producing flowers for a long time, very many-flowered; peduncle 4-winged, 0.5-0.8 cm long; rachis broadly and discontinuously 4-winged, the wings towards the apex of each internode gradually slightly dilated and on either side of the bract ending in a free, erect-patent, laterally compressed, triangular, acute appendage; internodes 0.08-0.1 cm long. Floral bracts distichous, widely patent to patent, triangular, laterally-compressed-apiculate, acute, concave, keeled, the keel decurrent as a rib between the wings, 0.08-0.13 cm long. Flowers very small, slightly more than 0.3 cm long, 0.27 cm wide. Sepals and petals in the basal part connate into a rather slender, somewhat fleshy-angular tube that is split underneath to beyond the middle, when flattened in total 0.25 cm long, 0.44 cm wide, each 1-nerved; free parts divergent somewhat carnose, outside obtusely thickened. Median sepal 0.24 cm long, free part ovate-triangular, obtuse, 0.14 by 0.07 cm. Lateral sepals 0.23 cm long, free part along the incurved front margin, obliquely angular-channelled, obliquely oblong-triangular, obtuse, 0.16 cm long, when not wholly flattened 0.06 cm wide. Petals smaller, slightly more than 0.2 cm long, free part obliquely triangular, acute or subacute, at the base truncate, only attached in the middle, slightly more than 0.1 cm long, 0.1 cm wide. Lip porrect, straight, 3-lobed, spurred, underneath convex, 4-nerved, in total 0.27 cm long, to the apex of the ovary 0.18 cm long; lateral lobes erect, triangular, acute, connected by a transverse membrane, forming a hollow that is open at the back; mid-lobe porrect, making an obtuse angle with the lateral lobes, narrowly triangular, near the apex triangular in cross-section, subacute, without hair-like appendage; spur pointing backwards, appressed to the ovary, obliquely subglobose, 0.06 cm long, at the apex rounded-truncate, inside at the apex with a gland. Column very short, dorsally convex; arms of the stigma porrect, distant, parallel, triangular, obtuse, conduplicate-channelled, in the basal hollow of the lip merging into a rectangular U-shape. Anther cucullate, cordate, at the apex shortly obtusely incurved, narrow, truncate, minutely retuse, 0.03 cm wide. Pollinia 2, oblong. Rostellum narrow, membranous. Ovary short, 6-ribbed, including the pedicel 0.13 cm long. Fruit when immature very shortly pedicellate, obliquely oblong, curved, with three strong dorsal ribs, two smaller ones, all very minutely denticulate, and a sixth forming a broad, convex, finely prickly band, between the ribs minutely rough, 0.4 cm long, 0.2 cm diam. (After Smith, 1935)
Colours: Flowers yellowish green.
Habitat: Epiphyte on high branches of tall trees in lowland forest; 175 m.
Flowering time in the wild: August.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 449-50M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.