Appendicula tenuispica

Appendicula tenuispica (Schltr.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 350

Basionym: Podochilus tenuispica

Roots elongated, glabrous. Stems pendulous, terete, 20-30 cm long, many-leaved. Leaves erect-patent, narrowly elliptic-oblong, 1.5-2 by 0.4-0.6 cm, apex emarginate, with a bristle-like mucro. Inflorescence terminal, racemose, 3 cm long, laxely several-flowered. Floral bracts erect-patent, ovate-lanceolate, about as long as the ovary, apex acute. Flowers c. 0.5 cm high. Dorsal sepal ovate, 0.3 cm long, apex acute. Lateral sepals strongly obliquely ovate, 0.3 cm by 3.5 mm, apex acuminate; mentum obtuse. Petals obliquely oblong, a little shorter than the dorsal sepal, apex obtuse. Lip almost pandurate, 0.4 cm long, base cuneate, basal appendage horseshoe-shaped, decurrent towards but not extending to the margins of the lip, lip near the apex with a minute wart, apex obtuse. Column short, rostellum ovate-triangular, emarginate, erect, stigma partly covered with a basal low lamella. Anther ovate-cordate, apex acute. Pollinia 6; caudicles single, narrowly lanceolate; viscidium oblong, large for the genus.
(After Schlechter, 1905, as Podochilus tenuispica Schltr.).

Colours: Not recorded.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 1200 m.

Flowering time in the wild: January.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 57-197M.JPG

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, keep in shade.

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