Diplocaulobium pililobum (J.J.Sm.) P.F.Hunt & Summerh., Taxon 10 (1961) 109.
Basionym: Dendrobium pililobum.
Pseudobulbs rather crowded, 1-leaved, base fusiform, 2-2.2 by 0.65-0.7 cm, upper part very slender, c. 4-6 cm long. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 8-10 by 1.35-1.6 cm, coriaceous, apex 2-dentate. Inflorescences 1-flowered, spathe 0.8-0.9 by 0.18 cm. Pedicel 7 cm long; ovary 0.45 cm long. Flower c. 6-7 cm across. Dorsal sepal (3.3-)4.7 cm by 4.8 mm; mentum c. 0.67 cm long. Petals 4.4 cm by 2.5 mm. Lip 3-lobed, 2 by 0.6 cm, with 2 verruculose-papillose keels, on the midlobe with a narrow, cushion-like, papillose callus; midlobe 1.2 by 0.38 cm. Column 0.35 cm long; column-foot 0.75.
(after Smith, 1916).
Colours: Sepals and petals white, in apical half yellow, lip white, the lateral lobes with transverse brown-purple stripes, the midlobe pale yellowish with sparse dark purple spots.
Habitat: Presumably epiphyte in lowland forest.
Flowering time in the wild: Not known.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Jayapura Regency).
Notes: Diplocaulobium pililobum is one of the many relatives of Diplocaulobium phalangium. Smith (1929), commenting on the variability of the material he examined, suggested it may be conspecific with Diplocaulobium aratriferum.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.