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Crepidium flavovirens D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem., Novon 7(4): 376-78. Type: Australia. Queensland: Cook District: near Malanda, 19 Feb. 1990, M. Brown (Jones 5677) holo CANB).
Occurs in north-eastern Queensland from Mossman to Tully.
Altitude: 30-750 m.
Terrestrial herb forming loose clumps. Stems erect, subcylindrical, tapered, 10-25 cm x 1-1.7 cm, pale green, fleshy. Leaves 4-10, semi-erect, in a fan-like array, petioles 1-6 mm long; lamina ovate to lanceolate, asymmetric, 10-25 cm x 3-6 cm, dark green, plicate, shiny, margins entire to undulate, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescence a terminal raceme, erect, 150-350 mm tall, green, brittle; peduncle 4-sided, alate; pedicels 3-7 mm long, including ovary. Flowers numerous, crowded, non-resupinate, porrect, 7-8 mm x 5-7 mm, yellowish green. Dorsal sepal erect to decurved, narrowly oblong to narrowly lanceolate, 5-6 x 2 mm, margins revolute, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals erect, divergent, reflexed behind labellum, oblong to ovate, 4-4.5 mm x 2-2.5 mm, apex obtusely apiculate. Petals spreading to recurved, narrowly linear, 4.5-5 mm x 0.8 mm, margins revolute, apex truncate to emarginate. Labellum unlobed, horseshoe-shaped, 5.5-6 mm x 5 mm, with 6-8 apical teeth to 1.5 mm long; basal auricles triangular, 3 mm long, apices apiculate. Column 2 mm long, porrect from end of ovary; 2 apical teeth extending above anther. Column foot absent. Capsules erect to porrect, narrowly obovoid, 5-6 mm x 2-3 mm, dehiscent.
Occurs in rainforests, often on steep slopes near streams and around soaks and on levees. It grows in leaf litter and gravelly loam, often among rocks. The plants are dormant throughout the drier months of the year, with the fleshy stems often covered by leaf litter. The growth of new stems commences with the summer rains. The small flowers do not self-pollinate and are believed to be splash-pollinated by falling raindrops.
Highly localised.
Flowering period: January-May.
Previously confused with C. xanthochilum, which is from New Guinea and Indonesia.
