Dendrobium gibbosum

Dendrobium gibbosum Gilli, Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 84, B (1980 publ. 1983) 25, fig. 13.

Type: Gilli 448 (holo W).

Rhizome climbing, branching. Stems elongated, straight, terete, 1-2 mm diameter. Leaf sheaths glabrous. Leaves reflexed to patent, narrowly linear-lanceolate, 2.5-7 by 0.3-0.4 cm, verruculose-rough. Inflorescences short, 2-flowered; spathe consisting of two sheaths, the lower almost semiorbicular, 2-3 by 2 mm, the upper curved-ligulate, 6-8 by 2 mm. Pedicel and ovary 0.7-1 cm long. Flowers c. 5 cm across. Sepals at the base obliquely lanceolate, upper part very long curved-filiform, 2.5-3 cm by 4-5 mm; mentum 0.5-0.6 cm long. Petals similar to the sepals, but narrower at the base. Lip 3-lobed below the middle, 1 cm long, at the base 0.2 cm wide; lateral lobes triangular, 0.2 cm long, acuminate; midlobe ovate, 0.4 by 0.4 cm, margin lacerate-fimbriate, with 3 nerves covered with club-shaped papillae. Column short, below the apex with 2 oval swellings, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules subcircular, minutely serrulate, the median short, tooth-like.
(after Gilli).

Colours: Flower reddish violet.

Habitat: Upper montane forest. Altitude 3100 m.

Flowering time in the wild: February.

Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Enga Province).

Map: GIBBOMAP.JPG [Dendrobium gibbosum Gilli, distribution map.]

Notes: The published description and illustration of this species are exceptionally poor and probably misleading.

Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte?.

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