Two new species of Mediocalcar (Orchidaceae) from New Guinea

Since the establishment of Mediocalcar by J.J. Smith in 1900, 51 species and 3 varieties have been described in this genus. Many of these are based on trivial characters, which lack diagnostic value for distinction at species level. Revisional work in progress at the Rijksherbarium suggests that less than 15 species should be recognized, but much work remains to be done before a satisfactory classification of this remarkable genus can be produced. During the course of these investigations it soon became apparent that two distinct species are still undescribed, of which one is fairly common throughout the highlands of New Guinea. They are strikingly different from all other species of the genus and they can easily be recognized by their vegetative characters alone.