Erythrodes forcipata

Erythrodes forcipata Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 60

Type: Schlechter 20339 (holo B, lost)

Terrestrial, erect, 20-28 cm high. Rhizome decumbent, stem-like. Roots elongated, flexuose, villose. Stem leafy, terete, glabrous. Leaves about 6-7, erect-patent, petiolate; blade obliquely lanceolate-elliptic, acute or almost acuminate, glabrous, 3.5-6 cm long, near the middle 1.3-2.7 cm wide. Inflorescence densely 10-15-flowered, subsecund, glandulose-puberulous, peduncle with a few lanceolate, acuminate scales, rachis up to 6 cm long. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate, usually longer than the ovary. Flowers erect-patent or erect. Sepals ligulate, obtuse, outside sparsely glandulose-puberulous, almost 4.5 mm long. Lateral sepals oblique, near the base somewhat broader than the median sepal. Petals at the base weakly clawed, obliquely rhombic-oblanceolate, obtuse, about as long as and with the margins cohering to the median sepal. Lip about as long as the petals, narrowly oblong-cucullate, in front widened into a very broadly ovate or suborbicular, obtuse lobe, glabrous; spur forked to above the middle, 2.5 mm long. Column short, in front in the middle somewhat thickened. Rostellum large. Anther lanceolate-cucullate, base cordate. Ovary cylindrical, glandulose-puberulous, almost 0.6 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).

Colours: Flower brownish, midlobe of the lip white.

Habitat: Terrestrial in hill forest. Altitude 800 m.

Flowering time in the wild: September.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 287-10M.JPG

Cultivation: Warm-intermediate growing terrestrial, requires humus-rich compost and shaded position.

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