Mystacidium tanganyikense Summerh.

A dwarf epiphyte with a very short stem 1–1.5 mm. long.. Roots numerous, flexuous, slender, 0.5–1 mm. in diameter.. Leaves 4–5, ± falcate, ligulate or elliptic-oblanceolate, unequally roundly or obtusely bilobed, 1–6 cm. long, 0.3–0.9 cm. wide, articulated at the base.. Inflorescences 1–several, pendent, 1.5–10 cm. long, 1–12-flowered; peduncle and rhachis very slender, wiry; bracts 3–7 mm. apart, triangular, obtuse, less than 1 mm. long.. Flowers whitish to yellowish green, nocturnally scented; pedicel and ovary very slender, 5–12 mm. long.. Dorsal sepal recurved, lanceolate, acuminate, 5–7.8 mm. long, 1.5–2 mm. wide; lateral sepals recurved, obliquely lanceolate-ligulate, acute, 6–8.5 mm. long, 1.2–1.8 mm. wide.. Petals obliquely lanceolate, acute, 4.7–7.3 mm. long, 1.5–2.5 mm. wide.. Lip obscurely 3-lobed, 4.7–6.6 mm. long, 2.7–3 mm. wide; side lobes upcurved, rounded; mid-lobe lanceolate, acute, recurved towards the apex.. Spur slender, pendent, tapering from a broad mouth, 12–17 mm. long.. Column 1 mm. long; rostellum pendent, 3-lobed, the mid-lobe longer than the side lobes, papillose; stipites 2, linear; viscidia 2, linear.. Fig. 148.