Diplocaulobium cadetioides

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

Basionym: Dendrobium cadetioides.

Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs crowded, 1-leaved, petiole-like, terete, often somewhat widened to the base, 5-12 by 0.15 cm. Leaves linear to ligulate-linear, 2.5-3.5 by 0.23-0.35 cm, apex obtuse, minutely bilobulate. Inflorescences arising in succession from the apex of the pseudobulb, 1-flowered; spathe laterally compressed, c. 1 cm long. Pedicel and ovary 3.5 cm long, slender, glabrous. Flower resupinated, c. 2 cm wide. Dorsal sepal narrowly lanceolate, narrowed to the apex, 1 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely narrowly lanceolate, widened to the base, narrowed to the apex, 1 cm long, apex obtuse; mentum very short, 1.5 mm long, obtuse. Petals obliquely narrowly linear, 1 cm long, apex obtuse. Lip elliptic in basal two-thirds, abruptly widened and rhombic in apical third with acute triangular sides, 0.6 by 0.3 cm, rounded at the base, with 3 parallel keels extending from the base to a little below the apex; margins irregularly crenulate, apex acuminate. Column short, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules rounded, minutely denticulate, the median short, tooth-like; column-foot 1.5 mm long. Anther subglobose-cucullate, in front truncate, glabrous.
(after Schlechter, 1912).

Colours: Sepals and petals white, outside slightly flushed red, lip yellow.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland and lower montane forest. Altitude 250-1300 m.

Flowering time in the wild: February-May, September, October.

Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Puncak Jaya Regency); Papua New Guinea (Southern Highlands, Morobe, and Oro Provinces).

Notes: A small Cadetia-like orchid, characterised by the slender, not swollen stems and the pandurate lip.

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.

%LABEL% (%SOURCE%)