Nervilia apiculata Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 41
Type: Schlechter 18502 (holo B, lost)
Terrestrial, erect, slender, c. 25 cm high. Tuber subglobose. Leaf ground-hugging, shortly petiolate; blade reniform-cordate, subacute to apiculate, puberulous above, 5-8 cm long, below the middle 6-8.5 cm wide, nerves c. 12, the nerves above especially towards the base keeled-thickened, ciliate-puberulous; petiole grooved, glabrous, 2-4 cm long. Inflorescence terete, glabrous, with a few distant, long-clasping sheaths, 2-flowered. Floral bracts erect, lanceolate, acute, at anthesis longer than the ovary, glabrous. Flowers pendent. Sepals lanceolate-ligulate, acute, somewhat dilated above the middle, glabrous, 2.6 cm long, lateral sepals oblique. Petals similar to the sepals but a little shorter, glabrous, oblique, acute. Lip oblong, in front rounded, apiculate, at the base with incurved margins, somewhat narrowed, 2.4 cm long, above the middle 0.8 cm wide, glabrous, without keels. Column slender, 1 cm long, glabrous. Ovary clavate, slightly 6-ribbed, glabrous, including the pedicel c. 1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Leaves green with brown spots on upper side. Flowers yellowish green, lip white.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest; 200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 479-2M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.