Collabium vesicatum (Rchb.f.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 98
Basionym: Chrysoglossum vesicatum
Plant epiphytic, 10-25 cm high excluding the inflorescence. Roots 2-4 on each rhizome part between 2 pseudobulbs, to 7.5 cm long, 0.1-0.2 cm diam. Rhizome rarely branching, to 7 cm long, 0.2-0.25 cm diam. Rhizome scales soon caducous, only remnants seen. Pseudobulbs alternatingly 1-3 bearing a leaf and 1 bearing an inflorescence, 1-6.5 cm apart, more or less clearly articulated at the junction with blade or scape, when dried all finely longitudinally wrinkled; leaf-bearing ones somewhat tapering to the top, 1-2.5 cm long, 0.1-0.3 cm diam.; inflorescence-bearing ones cylindrical, 0.5-1 cm long, 0.1-0.2 cm diam. Pseudobulb scales only remnants seen. Petiole 1-3 cm by 0.15-0.3 cm. Leaf blade ovate to oblong, 8.5-15.5 by 3.2-5.1 cm; top acute to acuminate; base attenuate; main nerves 5-7, below prominent, above slightly prominent; small nerves many. Raceme 4-8-flowered. Scape 6-14 cm long, 0.1-0.2 cm diam.; internodes 2-3, lower one 2-4.5 cm long, higher ones 2.2-6 cm long; scales 1.3-3 cm long, 0.2-0.4 cm diam., top acute to acuminate, nerves 11-15. Rachis terete, to 8.5 cm long, 0.05-0.15 cm diam.; internodes 0.7-2 cm long. Bracts patent, sometimes reflexed, ovate to lanceolate, 0.9-1.5 by 0.3-0.6 cm; top acuminate; nerves 3-7. Flowers rather regularly spaced along the rachis, several open at the same time, not widely opening, not scented. Pedicel star-shaped in cross-section, 0.3-0.7 by 0.05-0.1 cm; ovary similar, 0.4-0.7 by 0.08-0.2 cm. Median sepal lanceolate, c. 0.8-1.1 by 0.2-0.35 cm; top acute to acuminate, somewhat incurved; nerves 1-3, midrib somewhat prominent outside. Lateral sepals equal in size and shape, lanceolate-oblong, slightly falcate,0.95-1.35 by 0.2-0.36 cm; top acute to acuminate; nerves 3, midrib somewhat prominent outside. Petals equal in size and shape, lanceolate, 0.8-1.1 by 0.2-0.35 cm; top acute to acuminate; nerves 1-5, midrib somewhat prominent outside. Lip 0.95-1.35 cm long. Hypochile 0.45-0.65 by 0.67-0.95 cm; claw 0.25-0.35 by 0.1-0.2 cm; lateral lobes patent, obliquely ligulate to rarely broadly triangular, (0.15-)0.2-0.33 by 0.15-0.2(-0.3) cm, with a rounded to obliquely truncate to rounded top and an entire margin; lateral keels 2, between the bases of the lateral lobes of the lip turning into a c. 0.1 cm long, 0.03-0.1 cm wide, 0.1 cm high pyramid which is in front hollow to a depth of c. 0.03 cm, provided with a keel-like ridge with an extended, obtuse to rounded top (but sometimes this pyramid is less distinct), each keel continuing as a 0.02-0.04 cm high crest, sometimes halfway the epichile somewhat elevated into a semi-orbicular, up to 0.06 cm high thin lobe, often partly with a double crest, further entire with a somewhat irregular margin, ending about halfway or on the top half of the epichile; between the lobes of the keel somewhat fleshy, starting from this place with an entire, thin, c. 0.03 cm high median keel with an irregular, entire margin which ends on the epichile just before the ends of the lateral keels. Epichile slightly recurved, in outline broadly obovate, broadly spathulate to transversely elliptic, 0.45-0.8 by 0.6-0.9 cm; top somewhat emarginate to obtuse to acute, tip if present short, acute; margins somewhat denticulate and somewhat undulating. Column without torsion, upper part not or slightly curved forward, not swollen at the obtuse, irregularly dentate top, 0.3-0.45 by 0.15-0.25 cm; seams narrow to broad, 0.02-0.07 cm wide, each laterally of the stigma drawn out into a distinct, flat, forward projecting, narrowly to broadly triangular and acute, to broadly rounded, c. 0.1-0.15 by 0.05-0.2 cm big wing which is sometimes at the top provided with a downwards curved, up to 0.07 by 0.01 cm big apiculum; column-foot with a sturdy, swollen, saccate spur 0.25-0.5 cm long, 0.2-0.35 by 0.2-0.3 cm wide, with obtuse, more or less distinctly cleft top. Anther reniform, 0.06-0.1 by 0.13-0.15 cm; base emarginate; top obtuse to semi-orbicular, with a semi-orbicular to triangular, somewhat upwards curved tip. Pollinia c. 0.06 by 0.04 cm. Stigma ligulate to triangular, 0.1-0.2 by 0.07-0.15 cm; rostellum a narrow truncate ridge, 0.01-0.02 by c. 0.1 cm, not covered by the anther. Fruit not seen. (After Van der Burgh and De Vogel, 1997).
Colours: Sepals and petals (yellowish) green to lemon yellow. Lip (twice recorded to be slightly twisted) and column white to yellowish, keels once recorded yellow.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lower montane forest. Altitude 600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Is., Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 166-15M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, keep in shade.
Note: Differs from Collabium carinatum especially in the swollen, at the top broad and almost bilobed spur.