Erythrodes tetrodonta

Erythrodes tetrodonta Ormerod, Lindleyana 17 (2002) 201, fig. 9

Type: van Royen & Sleumer 6831A (holo K, iso AMES)

Terrestrial herb. Rhizome creeping, terete. internodes 1.1-2.8 cm long, 0.3-0.6 cm in diameter. Stem erect, laxly 5- to 6-leaved, 9 cm long. Leaves obliquely ovate-lanceolate to ligulate-lanceolate, acute, 10 by 2-2.6 cm; petiole 1.2 cm long before dilating into the sheath. Inflorescence 29 cm long, pubescent; peduncle 11 cm long, with three distant scales, the lowermost of which is almost leaf-like, the upper one being 2-3 by 0.4-0.5 cm, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate; rachis 18 cm long, rather laxly flowered. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate,0.6-1 by 0.2-0.4 cm. Ovary cylindrical-fusiform, pubescent, 0.7-0.9 cm long. Flowers pubescent outside. Median sepal ovate-oblong, obtuse, forming a helmet-like structure with the petals, 0.6 by 0.2-0.25 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-elliptic. obtuse. 0.6 by 0.25 cm. Petals ligulate-oblanceolate, apical half subrhombic, acute. 0.6 by 0.15 cm. Lip 3-lobed, 5-veined. connate to the column for 0.1 cm, spurred; spur conical, shortly bilobed, 0.15 cm long, inside with four dentiform, intraneural calli; hypochile subquadrate-cuneate, 0.2 cm long, 0.4 cm wide at the base, 0.2 cm wide at the apex; epichile transversely elliptic with a short acumen, 0.1 by 0.2 cm. Column 0.55 cm long, 0.2 cm diam.; rostellum remnant deltoid, shortly bifid; stigma lobes connate, each side with a membranous rounded wing. (After Smith, 1917).

Colours: Leaves green, inflorescence dirty reddish cream. Flower colour not recorded.

Habitat: Terrestrial. Altitude 600 m.

Flowering time in the wild: October.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 287-44M.JPG

Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.

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