Diplocaulobium abbreviatum

Diplocaulobium abbreviatum (Schltr.) A.D.Hawkes, Lloydia 20 (1957) 127.

Basionym: Dendrobium abbreviatum.

Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs crowded, 1-leaved, cylindrical, terete, slightly narrowed to the apex, 1.3-2 by 0.2-0.3 cm. Leaves linear, 2-4 by 0.2-0.4 cm, apex obtuse, minutely bilobulate, subcoriaceous. Inflorescences arising in succession from the apex of the pseudobulb, 1-flowered; spathe laterally compressed, c. 7 mm long, obtuse. Pedicel and ovary 1.6 cm long, glabrous, slender. Flower resupinated, c. 2.5 cm wide. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, 1.3 cm long, apex elongate-acuminate. Lateral sepals obliquely lanceolate, widened to the base, 1.3 cm long, apex elongate-acuminate; mentum c. 2.5 mm long, obtuse. Petals narrowly linear, narrowed to the apex, 1.3 cm long. Lip 3-lobed below the middle, 0.9 by 0.35 cm, cuneate at the base, with 2 keels extending from the base to a little above the middle of the midlobe, flattened towards the apex, parallel, glabrous, the midlobe between the keels with a lanceolate-elliptic, farinose-pubescent callus; lateral lobes short, obtuse; midlobe elongated, oblong-ligulate, shortly acuminate. Column short, clinandrium acutely 3-lobulate; column-foot 2.5 mm long. Anther cucullate, at the back with a hump, in front truncate, glabrous.
(after Schlechter, 1912).

Colours: Sepals and petals outside pinkish red, paler inside, lip white with red-brown markings.

Habitat: Epiphyte in hill forest. Altitude 500-600 m.

Flowering time in the wild: June, September.

Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).

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

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.

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