Dendrobium appendiculoides

Dendrobium appendiculoides J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12 (1913) 114; Nova Guinea 12, 3 (1916) 326, t. 118, fig. 215.

Type: Gjellerup 1003 (holo BO, iso L).

Rhizome creeping, roots densely verrucose. Stems 0.7-0.8 cm apart, elongated, in cross-section transversely elliptic, angular, glabrous, 40-60 cm long, internodes 2-5.5 cm long, shorter in upper part. Leaf sheaths much shorter than the internodes, minutely transversely rugulose. Leaves oblong to lanceolate, 5-9 by 1.4-2.8 cm, apex obtuse, unequally bilobulate. Inflorescences laterally from the upper nodes of the stem, patent, racemose; peduncle 2-3.5 cm long; rachis 2-6.3 cm long, 4-14-flowered. Floral bracts triangular, 0.2 cm long. Pedicel 1.15-1.5 cm long; ovary 0.2 cm long. Flowers c. 1.8 cm across. Dorsal sepal 0.83-0.9 cm long; mentum spur-like, 1.1-1.2 cm long, obtuse. Petals 0.76-0.8 cm by 4 mm. Lip 3-lobed, 1.45-1.55 by 1.5 cm, with a 0.3 cm long appendage at the base, for c. 0.45 cm adnate to the column-foot; midlobe 0.48 by 0.68-0.7 cm. Column 0.4 cm long; column-foot 1.1 cm long, inside, except at the base, pubescent.
(after Smith, 1916).

Colours: Sepals and petals pale green, outside with dark brown-purple spots and stripes; lip pale yellow with pale brown markings, lateral lobes with dark brown basal margins.

Habitat: Epiphyte in hill forest and lower montane forest. Altitude 200 to 1100 m.

Flowering time in the wild: February, May.

Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Jayapura Regency); Papua New Guinea (Milne Bay Province).

Notes: Dendrobium appendiculoides should be compared with Dendrobium cyrtolobum.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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