Diplocaulobium gracilentum

Diplocaulobium gracilentum (Schltr.) Kraenzl., in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 50. II. B. 21 (1910) 333.

Basionym: Dendrobium gracilentum.

Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs crowded, 1-leaved, narrowly terete, at the base ovoid, 4-6 by 0.3 (at the base) to 0.1 (near the apex) cm. Leaves narrowly linear, patent to suberect, 6-9 by 0.2 cm, apex minutely unequally bilobulate, coriaceous. Inflorescences arising in succession from the apex of the pseudobulb, 1-flowered. Pedicel and ovary 1.3 cm long, slender, glabrous. Flower resupinate, c. 2 cm wide. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, narrowed to the apex, 1 cm long, apex acuminate. Lateral sepals obliquely falcate, widened to the base, narrowed to the apex, 1 cm by 6 mm (at the base), apex acuminate; mentum c. 5 mm long (judging from Schlechter's drawing), obtuse. Petals narrowly lanceolate, slightly oblique, 1 cm long, apex sharply acuminate. Lip oblong, slightly constricted above the middle, 1 by 0.4 cm, with 2 parallel keels extending from the base to the middle of the part above the constriction, slightly thickened to the apex, margins of the part above the constriction slightly undulate, apex rounded or rounded-apiculate. Column very short, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules half as long as the tooth-like median lobule; column-foot c. 5 mm long. Anther subglobose-cucullate, in front truncate, glabrous.
(after Schlechter, 1905).

Colours: Flower white or pale pink with a white lip.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 800-900 m.

Flowering time in the wild: April, September.

Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Sandaun Province: Torricelli Mountains).

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.

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