Platanthera angustata (Blume) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. (1835) 290
Basionym: Mecosa angustata
Terrestrial herb to 75 cm tall with very fleshy roots but without tuber. Stem with c. 4 distant leaves. Leaves to 10 by 4.8 cm, becoming smaller upwards, ovate to subcordate, pointed. Inflorescence laxly many-flowered. Floral bracts to 2.5 by 1.35 cm, ovate, pointed. Pedicel and ovary 1.4 cm long. Median sepal 0.67 by 0.5 cm, ovate, obtuse, forming a helmet-like structure with the petals. Lateral sepals 0.8 by 0.27 cm, lanceolate, subfalcate, deflexed. Petals semi-ovate, concave. Lip 1.15 by 0.3 cm, entire, broadly linear, obtuse, fleshy; spur pendent, thin-cylindrical, 1.4 cm long. Column very short, with short lateral auricles. (After Smith, 1905)
Colours: Flower green.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lower montane forest; 1500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July.
Distribution: Malesia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, ?Sulawesi, ?Lesser Sunda Islands, ?Moluccas, New Guinea, Philippines), SE Asia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Ryukyu Arch.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 556-15M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.