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Cryptostylis ligulata

Cryptostylis ligulata

Cryptostylis ligulata J.J.Sm., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 66 (1934) 163

Type: Mayr 563 (holo L)

Leaf ovate, acutely acuminate, base shortly petiolate, veins curved, laxly rectangularly reticulate-veined, mid rib prominent below, when dried not spotted, 10 cm by 4-4.5 cm; petiole 3.5-4.25 cm long. Inflorescence several-flowered, peduncle 22.5 cm long, with c. 3 small, distant, appressed, tubular, acuminate scales which become smaller and bract-like above; rachis more than 5 cm long. Floral bracts ovate, long subulate-acuminate, concave, 0.78 cm long, almost 0.3 cm wide. Flowers 9 (or more), erect-patent. Median sepal linear, 3-nerved, 0.17 cm wide. Lateral sepals obliquely linear, margins involute, somewhat narrowed towards the slightly incurved apex, narrowly obtuse; outside minutely apiculate, 3-nerved, 1.15-1.25 cm by 0.14 cm Petals linear, gradually narrowed towards the apex, acute, finely mucronate, 1-nerved, 0.83 cm by 0.13 cm Lip very narrow, linear-ligulate, towards the apex gradually narrowed, when flattened linear-triangular, 1.45 cm by 0.35 cm, narrowly obtuse, base truncate, only attached in the middle, convex, at the base with a triangular concavity, papillose except in the concavity, 5-nerved, outer nerves branched, at the base with 9 very short radiating nerves. 0vary pedicellate, deeply 6-grooved, 1.35 cm long. (After Smith, 1934).


Sepals and petals greenish. Lip reddish, in front with dark red dots.

Terrestrial in lower montane forest. Altitude 1100 m.

Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Papua (Indonesia). See map

distribution in New Guinea

Intermediate growing terrestrial, keep in shade.

Not known

  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Orchidoideae
  • Tribe Diurideae
  • Subtribe Cryptostylidinae
  • Genus Cryptostylis
  • Species Cryptostylis ligulata

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Cryptostylis ligulata

Cryptostylis ligulata J.J.Sm., drawing J.J. Smith, from Mayr 563

Cryptostylis ligulata

Cryptostylis ligulata J.J.Sm., herbarium sheet, Mayr 563, holotype specimen (L)