Polystachya melanantha Schltr.

A dwarf epiphytic plant to 4.5 cm. high.. Pseudobulbs borne 1 cm. apart on a creeping rhizome, conical above, ± prostrate, with apex upcurved, 0.6–1.3 cm. long, 0.6 cm. wide, 2-leaved at apex.. Leaves ligulate to oblong-elliptic, spreading, acute, 2–4.2 cm. long, 0.3–1.2 cm. wide.. Inflorescence erect, to 3.2 cm. high, 1 (–2)-flowered; peduncle sparsely pubescent; bracts ovate, acute, 2.5 mm. long, 2 mm. wide.. Flowers large for size of plant, sepals pink or white with a mauve margin.. Dorsal sepal narrowly ovate, acute, 10–15.5 mm. long, 5.7–6 mm. wide; lateral sepals obliquely ovate, acute, 11–17 mm. long, 7–9 mm. wide; mentum 6.5 mm. long.. Petals oblanceolate to subspathulate, rounded at apex. 10–14 mm. long, 4–4.7 mm. wide.. Lip 3-lobed in middle, 10–15 mm. long, 10–12 mm. wide; side lobes rounded, shorter than mid-lobe; mid-lobe triangular, acute, 6 mm. long and wide, disc pubescent; callus fleshy, raised over base of lip; ± 3-lobed at front.. Column long, winged on each side, 5 mm. long; column-foot 5 mm. long.