Dendrobium podocarpifolium

Dendrobium podocarpifolium Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58 (1923) 120.

Type: Ledermann 11432 (holo B, lost).

Stem erect, slender, straight, terete, much branched, to 100 cm long, densely many-leaved. Leaf sheaths entirely covering the stem, minutely rugulose. Leaves erect-patent, narrowly linear, 3-6 by 0.3-0.5 cm, apex obtusely unequally bilobulate, coriaceous. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem, 1-flowered, short. Floral bract small. Pedicel and ovary 0.5 cm long, glabrous. Flower not resupinated, c. 0.6 cm across. Dorsal sepal elliptic, 0.35 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely elliptic, widened and connate at the base, 0.35 cm long, apex obtuse; mentum oblongoid, 0.15 cm long, obtuse. Petals obliquely oblong-spathulate, subfalcate, 0.33 cm long, apex apiculate. Lip 3-lobed in apical part, 0.5 by 0.3 cm, base with a long narrow claw, in apical half sparsely shortly pubescent, with a hoof iron-shaped, backwards-pointing, fleshy, glabrous callus which is shortly bilobulate dorsally in apical half of the blade, lateral lobes triangular, obtuse; midlobe semi-elliptic, margins undulate, apex excised. Column 0.2 cm long; column-foot 0.15 cm long.
(after Schlechter, 1923).

Colours: Flower white.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 1300 m.

Flowering time in the wild: March.

Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Hunstein Mountains).

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.

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