Dendrobium montissellae

Dendrobium montissellae Kraenzl., in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 50. II. B. 21 (1910) 105.

Type: Lauterbach 750 (holo HBG, probable, s.n.).

Stems slender, leafy, 50 cm long. Leaves lanceolate, 8 by 1 cm, apex acuminate. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem opposite the leaves, 1-flowered. Flower c. 0.8 cm long. Sepals and cuneate-obovate, almost spathulate, concave, apex rounded. Mentum semicircular, thick. Lip obovate to almost rhombic, with a broadly linear claw, warty in front, on the disc with uncinate teeth and with raised veins and raised lines which diverge at right angles, near the apex with two additional short raised lines, apical margin serrulate, apex acute. Clinandrium with a single tooth. Anther flat, rather large.
(after Kraenzlin, 1910).

Colours: Flower yellow with purple dots, lip purple.

Habitat: Presumably in lower montane forest. Altitude 900 m.

Flowering time in the wild: Not known.

Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).

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

Notes: Probably a member of section Grastidium, which however should normally have 2-flowered inflorescences.

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.

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