Schoenorchis sarcophylla Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 987
Type: Schlechter 16815 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect, very small, to 8 cm high; roots filiform, glabrous. Stem unbranched, rather thick, many-leaved, to 5 cm long, covered with the rugulose leaf-sheaths, c. 0.35 cm diam. Leaves erect-patent, narrowly linear, subobtuse; semiterete-fleshy, 3-4 cm long, c. 0.3-0.4 cm wide. Inflorescences paniculate, few-branched, half as long as the leaves, or more, laxly several- to many-flowered. Floral bracts deltoid, minute. Flowers minute, glabrous. Sepals elliptic, obtuse, minutely apiculate, 0.13 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely elliptic, broadly obtuse, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip a little longer than the sepals, in outline oblong-ligulate, in front of the mouth of the spur with a minute conical callus; lateral lobes very small, short; mid-lobe oblong, obtuse; spur oblongoid, obtuse, c. 0.05 cm long. Column short, with rather inconspicuous lateral teeth. Anther rounded-cucullate, at the apex ascending; pollinia obliquely globose; stipe about as long as the pollinia, semiglobose; viscidium oblong, twice as long as the stipe. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, c. 0.13 cm long, glabrous. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 600 to 1800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: August, November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Australia.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 636-33M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.