Diplocaulobium sublobatum

Diplocaulobium sublobatum (J.J.Sm.) P.F.Hunt & Summerh., Taxon 10 (1961) 109.

Basionym: Dendrobium sublobatum.

Rhizome creeping. Pseudobulbs at a very narrow angle to the rhizome, 1-1.2 cm apart, 1-leaved, ovoid-fusiform, 6-angular, 2 by 0.5 cm. Leaves lanceolate, 4-5 by 0.9-1.2 cm, coriaceous, apex bidentate. Inflorescences 1-flowered; spathe 1 cm long; peduncle 0.4 cm long. Floral bract 0.27 cm long, apex acute. Pedicel 2-3.2 cm long; ovary 0.2 cm long. Flower c. 2.5 cm across. Dorsal sepal linear, widened at the base, 1.5 cm long, at the base 2.5 mm wide, apex acute. Lateral sepals obliquely triangular at the base, linear, 1.5 cm long, at the base 6 mm wide, apex acute; mentum 0.47 cm long, obtuse. Petals linear, 1.27 cm by 1 mm, apex acute. Lip 3-lobed, 0.95-1.1 by 0.32-0.35 cm, with 3 keels; lateral lobes indistinct, tooth-like to minutely triangular; midlobe ovate-oblong, 0.47-0.58 by 0.24-0.33 cm, acute to subacuminate. Column 0.16 cm long; column-foot 0.47 cm long.
(after Smith, 1916).

Colours: Flower yellowish white with light yellow tips, lip yellow, margins in basal half deep violet, column at apex yellow, column-foot spotted violet.

Habitat: Epiphyte in rainforest. Altitude 60 m.

Flowering time in the wild: October.

Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (East Sepik Province).

Notes: Diplocaulobium sublobatum should be compared with Diplocaulobium tropidophorum.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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