It grows epiphytically at up to 10,000 feet (3,000 m) above sea level in New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago.

[1][2] It is targeted by commercial collectors who harvest it for export.

[3] It has one of the longest floral durations of any orchid, with individual flowers remaining open for up to nine months.

[4] Another source says ten months.

[5] Its stems are 1–2 centimetres (0.4–0.8 in) tall and 4–7 millimetres (0.16–0.28 in) wide; the flowers are 25–40 mm (1.0–1.6 in) long, 13–35 mm (0.5–1.4 in) wide, and extremely variable in colour.,[6] ranging from crimson through orangey-red.