Peristylus triaenus (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 26 (1971) 177
Basionym: Habenaria triaena
Terrestrial, erect, unbranched, slender, c. 35 cm high; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous; stem straight or nearly straight, terete, glabrous, at the base with a few laxly clasping sheaths, leafy to the middle [i.e. to the base of the peduncle]. Leaves. 3-4, erect-patent, elliptic, acuminate, glabrous, 6-6.5 by 1.2-1.6 cm. Peduncle with a few distant lanceolate scales; rachis rather densely 15- to 20-flowered, subsecund. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, about as long as or longer than the ovary. Flowers glabrous. Sepals oblong-elliptic, obtuse, about 0.2 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely elliptic, obtuse, in basal third along the anterior margins adnate to the lip. Lip split in three lobes to near the base, as long as the petals, the lateral lobes falcate-linear, obtuse, mid-lobe lanceolate-ligulate, obtuse, as long as the lateral lobes, near the mouth of the spur with a small, in front retuse callus; spur deflexed, clavate, obtuse, straight, 0.5 cm long. Rostellum triangular, low; staminodes oblong; stigmatophores somewhat thickened, distinctly longer than the anther channels. Anther notched at the apex, with short anther channels. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, c. 0.7 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers green.
Habitat: Terrestrial in open places in (lower) montane forest; 1100 to 2900 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, March, June, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 542-155M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial.