Plocoglottis torana J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 11 (1912) 135
Type: Gjellerup 769 (holo BO)
Stem up to 60 cm long, elongated, basal part covered with soon-decaying sheaths; upper part 7-leaved. Leaf-sheaths tubular with prominent veins; blade 34-40 by 4.2-4.5 cm, elongated-lanceolate, base cuneate, apex long acute-acuminate; underneath with 5 prominent veins. Inflorescence robust, elongated, laxly many-flowered; rachis thick, obtusely angular, densely velutinous pubescent. Bracts 1 by 0.7 cm, persistent, strongly patent, ovate-triangular, at the base concave, otherwise convex, apex strongly acuminate, pubescent. Flowers fleshy, 2.3 by 1.4 cm, dorsally pubescent. Median sepal 1.8 by 0.67-0.75 cm, erect, oblong, incurved, concave, apex slightly recurved, acute, conically apiculate, adaxially pubescent, basal part on abaxial side with 3 prominent veins extending to just below apex. Lateral sepals 1.87 by 0.75 cm, strongly reflexed, on the upper part incurved, obliquely oblong, subacute, conically apiculate, concave, abaxial side channelled, adaxially pubescent. Petals 1.8 by 0.45 cm, linear-lanceolate, incurved, obliquely narrowly lanceolate, acute-acuminate, concave, dorsal side convex with a longitudinal groove, apex acuminate, fleshy, margin thin, irregular, pubescent on both sides. Lip 1.3 by 0.83 cm at base, 0.95 cm wide at apex, base broadly truncate, with a small, very short sac formed by the column-foot and the lip base; basal margin thin, strongly reflexed; adnate to column-foot with basal lamellae; quadrangular, grooved along the median of adaxial side, on adaxial side with two keels, these somewhat dilated towards the apex; apex erose, on both sides rounded, acumen 0.13 cm long, 0.3 cm wide at base, broadly triangular, obtuse; sparsely pubescent. Column 0.7 cm long, dorsally pubescent, in front with a longitudinal groove below the stigma, apex incurved, triangular, obtuse; clinandrium deeply concave; rostellum broad, triangular, obtuse; stigma large, transverse, quadrangular-subreniform. Anther 0.27 cm long, cucullate, ovate, obtuse, long umbonate. Pollinia oblong, caudicle 0.27 cm long. Pedicel with ovary 1.3 cm long. (After Smith, 1915)
Colours: not known.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest; 40 m.
Flowering time in the wild: October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 564-52M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.