Pristiglottis puberula (Schltr.) Cretz. & J.J.Sm., Acta Fauna Fl. Universali, ser. 2, Bot., 1, 17 (1935) 4
Basionym: Cystopus puberulus
Terrestrial, small, c. 5 cm high. Rhizome long decumbent, stem-like; roots short, flexuose, puberulous; stem ascending, terete, glabrous. Leaves patent, petiolate, blade ovate-lanceolate, acute, glabrous on both sides, 1.5-1.7 by 0.7-0.8 cm; petiole at the base dilated, clasping the stem, 0.7-1 cm long. Peduncle puberulous. Flowers erect-patent, 2-3. Sepals porrect, oblong, obtuse, outside sparsely puberulous, connate in basal third, the median sepal somewhat narrowed towards the apex, 0.9 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, somewhat longer, at the base along the anterior margin lobed-dilated, connate into a short, obtuse sac. Petals about as long as the median sepal and inside adhering to it along their margins, obliquely ligulate, obtuse, along the anterior margin near the middle somewhat dilated, glabrous. Lip at the base suborbicular-cucullate, inside with two glands, in the middle part with inflexed, pectinate margins, forming an elongated claw, apical lobe when flattened transversely oblong, apiculate, whole lip 1.3 cm long, claw 0.7 cm long, below the middle 0.3 cm wide, apical lobe 0.25 by 0.6 cm. Column short, glabrous, in front with two somewhat crenulate lamellae; rostellum lanceolate, large, apex bifid. Anther at the base ovate-cucullate, cordate, rostrate, acuminate. Ovary cylindrical, puberulous, 0.9 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Leaves very dark green with narrow light edges. Flowers whitish green with white lip.
Habitat: Terrestrial in montane forest; 2300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands (Bougainville).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 583-21M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.