Dendrobium magistratus

Dendrobium magistratus P.J.Cribb, Orchadian 6 (1981) 274.

Type: Reeve 393 (holo K; iso L, LAE).

A medium-sized to large epiphytic herb. Stems cane-like, clustered, tapering somewhat towards apex, dilated somewhat at base, up to 60 by 1 cm, covered for most part by tubular sheaths and leaf bases, up to 15- or more leaved. Leaves distichous, coriaceous, flat, elliptic or oblong-elliptic, slightly bilobed at the rounded apex, up to 10 by 3.5 cm, each with a tubular sheathing base up to 4 cm long. Inflorescences several, spreading, to arcuate, lateral and emerging through base of leaf-sheaths or subterminal, up to 14 cm long, densely few- to many-flowered; peduncle terete, much longer than rachis, bearing three short sheaths along length; bracts narrowly triangular, acuminate, 4 mm long. Flowers subnutant, borne close together spirally on rachis. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, acute, 2.5 by 0.6 cm, with upcurved sides and a reflexed apex; lateral sepals lanceolate, acute, 2.8 by 0.7 cm, somewhat recurved at apex; mentum conical, pointing backwards, 6 mm long. Petals spreading, linear, acute, 1-3 times twisted, 3.3 by 0.2 cm. Lip 3-lobed in apical half, not recurved, 2.2 by 1.35 cm, verrucose on lateral veins; side-lobes rounded, erect, with markedly erose margins; midlobe narrowly triangular, acuminate; callus of five longitudinal low somewhat erose lamellae, the outer two being highest. Column with a rounded but erose apical margin, 3.5 mm long; foot 6 mm long.
(after Cribb, 1986).

Colours: Sepals, petals, ovary and pedicel creamy-white; lip yellow, veined with red especially on side lobes.

Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude about 1500 m.

Distribution: New Guinea, Solomon Islands.

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Western Highlands Province).

Map: MAGISMAP.JPG [Dendrobium magistratus P.J.Cribb, distribution map, redrawn from P. Cribb, Kew Bull. 41 (1986) 658, map 6.]

Notes: Dendrobium magistratus is a distinctive orchid which resembles Dendrobium crispilinguum in flower size but is easily distinguished by its more clustered flowers, different flower colour and by its lip which has a small, narrowly triangular, acuminate midlobe and broad erose side lobes.
(after Cribb, 1986).

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.

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