Tropidia curculigoides Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. (1840) 497
Type: Wallich (leg. De Silva & Gomez) 7386A (Assam) (syn K); Griffith s.n. (syn K); Macrae s.n. (Ceylon) (syn K-LINDL)
Terrestrial herb. Stems close together, erect, branching, to c. 70 cm long. Leaves c. 18 by 3 cm, spirally arranged, lanceolate, acuminate. Inflorescences terminal and lateral, very short, almost sessile, densely rather few-flowered. Floral bracts short, ovate. Pedicel and ovary 0.7 cm long. Median sepal 1 by 0.35 cm, lanceolate, subobtuse. Lateral sepals 1.37 by 0.35 cm, slightly sigmoid, apiculate. Petals 1 by 0.35 cm, lanceolate, falcate, strongly concave, subobtuse, outside with prominent fleshy midrib. Lip entire, saccate at base, appressed to the column, inside with two keels, outside with a central groove, apical part reflexed, 0.35 by 0.3 cm, oblong-triangular, broadly grooved. Column 0.7 cm long, making a right angle with the ovary, dilated to the apex, in front with a broad central longitudinal groove; rostellum prominent, fleshy, broad, shortly acuminate, bidenticulate. Anther oblong-ovate, acute, about as long as the rostellum. (After Smith, 1905)
Colours: Flower yellowish white.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lower montane forest; 1100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July.
Distribution: Malesia (Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Java, Borneo, Lesser Sunda Islands, New Guinea), Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, India, Burma, China (to Hainan), Taiwan, Australia.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 707-11M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.