Species Information - Platanthera papuana

Platanthera papuana Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 4

Type: Schlechter 19610 (holo B, lost)

Synonyms:

Terrestrial, erect, c. 35 cm high; roots thickened, fleshy, villose. Basal leaf single, erect, elliptic, acuminate, at the base cuneate, narrowed into a short petiole, 8 by 3 cm, glabrous. Stem straight or nearly so, terete, glabrous, at the base with one or two sheaths. Stem leaves 3, distant, glabrous, erect-patent, lower one ovate, acuminate, cordate-clasping, 6 by 2.7 cm, upper ones much smaller. Inflorescence erect, laxly c. 8-flowered. Floral bracts erect, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, lower ones longer than the ovary, upper ones gradually shorter. Flowers glabrous. Median sepal erect, ovate, obtuse, concave, 0.5 cm long. Lateral sepals deflexed, falcate-ligulate, obtuse, as long as the median sepal. Petals erect, obliquely ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, in basal half dilated along the front margin, a little shorter than the median sepal. Lip deflexed, ligulate, obtuse, somewhat dilated towards the base, 0.5 cm long; spur deflexed slightly curved, cylindrical, subobtuse, 0.7 cm long, glabrous. Anther small, subquadrangular, the locules at their base divergent; rostellum small, inside in the middle umbonate. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, c. 1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)

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