Diplocaulobium sepikanum

Diplocaulobium sepikanum (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 26 (1971) 179.

Basionym: Dendrobium sepikanum.

Rhizome to 15 cm long, creeping. Pseudobulbs closely spaced, 1-leaved, ovoid, 4-angled, 1-1.2 by 0.5-0.8 cm. Leaves oblong to ligulate-oblong, 1.3-2.3 by 0.6-1 cm, base cuneate, rigid, carnose. Inflorescences 1-flowered. Pedicel and ovary 0.8-0.9 cm long, clavate, slender, glabrous. Flower c. 2.5 cm across. Dorsal sepal at the base lanceolate, narrowing to the apex, 1.3 cm long, apex elongated-acuminate. Lateral sepals lanceolate in basal part, widened at the base, narrowing to the apex, 1.3 cm long, apex elongated-acuminate; mentum 0.35 cm long, obtuse. Petals at the base obliquely linear-lanceolate, narrowing to the apex, 1.2 cm long, apex elongated-acuminate. Lip 3-lobed just above the middle, 1.1 by 0.25 cm, cuneate-oblong at the base, with two keels extending from the base to just below the apex, the keels curved in basal half, subparallel in upper half, lightly flexuose, midvein thickened; lateral lobes short, margins subcrenate, apex rounded; midlobe elliptic-lanceolate, 0.5 by 0.17 cm, margins undulate, apex acute. Column short; column-foot 0.35 cm long.
(after Schlechter, 1923).

Colours: Flower greenish white, the lip probably with red and yellow markings.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude 40-60 m.

Flowering time in the wild: July.

Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Sepik River).

Notes: To be compared with Diplocaulobium jadunae.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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