Diplocaulobium recurvifolium

Diplocaulobium recurvifolium (J.J.Sm.) A.D.Hawkes, Lloydia 20 (1957) 129.

Basionym: Dendrobium recurvifolium.

Pseudobulbs crowded, 1-leaved, at base narrowly fusiform, 1.1-1.7 by 0.35-0.5 cm, upper part very slender, 4.5-7.5 cm by 1.2-2 mm, near the apex 2.3-2.8 mm wide. Leaves erect, lanceolate, 6.5-8.5 by 1.4-1.6 cm, coriaceous, apex equally triangular-bidentate. Inflorescences 1-flowered, spathe linear, 1.5-1.7 cm by 2.3 mm; peduncle 0.95-1.1 cm long. Pedicel 2.7-3.2 cm long; ovary 0.35-0.38 cm long. Flower c. 5 cm across. Dorsal sepal 3.3-4.3 cm by 5 mm; mentum 0.66 cm long, truncate. Petals 3.1-3.9 cm by 2.3 mm. Lip 3-lobed, 1.15-1.3 by 0.6 cm, with two papillose keels that become contiguous towards the apex, then diverge again, on basal half of the midlobe with a hairy elliptic callus; midlobe 0.54-0.68 by 0.45-0.58 cm. Column 0.35-0.37 cm long.
(after Smith, 1929).

Colours: Sepals and petals white with golden yellow tips, faintly suffused with brown, lip white, the lateral lobes with broad dark purple margins and short transverse stripes, midlobe yellow in the centre, the callus yellowish white.

Habitat: Not known.

Flowering time in the wild: Not known.

Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (origin not known).

Notes: Diplocaulobium recurvifolium is a near relative of Diplocaulobium aratriferum.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte?.

%LABEL% (%SOURCE%)