Sciaphila arfakiana Becc.

Erect, simple or branched, sometimes a bit flexuous herb, c. (2-) 4-28 cm high. Roots filiform, c. 0.1-0.4 mm in CS, with hairs. Stem c. 0.3-1 (-1.5) mm in CS, glabrous, internodes c. 4-33 mm long. Leaves oblong to lanceolate, appressed, not amplexicaul, c. 1-3 by 0.2-1 mm, acute to acuminate. Raceme c. 0.5-14 cm long; flowers c. 5-65, all around, very rarely all flowers to one side. Bracts oblong-lanceolate, acute, c. 0.5-2.5 by c. 0.1-0.5 mm, appressed to the pedicel (and the top mostly patent) or patent from the pedicel to 40° (and in that case mostly perpendicular to the stem). Pedicels c. 2-21 mm long and c. 0.1-0.3 (-0.4) mm in CS, patent at 20-90° (mostly 30-45°), straight or the apical part recurved. ♂ Flowers: perianth segments 6, 3 larger ones alternating with 3 smaller ones, all oblong-ovate, the apex with a stipitate globose to ellipsoid knob; larger segments c. 0.7-1.7 by c. 0.3-0.5 mm, smaller segments c. 0.6-1.4 bye. 0.35-0.5 mm. Stamens 3, c. 0.3-0.5 mm; filaments clearly exceeding the 4-celled, 4-lobed anthers (but the acute apex of the filament often broken off). ♀ Flowers: perianth segments 6, more or less equal, oblong to triangular, acute, c. 0.5-1 by c. 0.25-0.50 (-0.65) mm, apex without appendages, but often thickened. Carpels c. (10-) 20-40 (-70), c. 0.2-0.5 mm long; style awl-shaped, acute, inserted laterally, c. 0.6-1.8 mm long, amply exceeding the carpel.

Rain-forest (low montane or montane), often on a hill, cliff, ridge, crest or in a river valley, on sandstone and other bedrock, in shade of trees or fern clumps; on humus, one time on a termite hill. Sometimes associated with Corsia, Burmannia or Epirixanthes; 100-2130 m. Fl. Jan.-Dec.