Hippeophyllum alboviride

Hippeophyllum alboviride J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 11 (1912) 135

Type: Gjellerup 744

Rhizome creeping, branched, terete, 0.23-0.28 cm diam., rooting near the base of the stems, sheaths tubular, shorter than the internodes. Stems 2.5-4.5 cm apart, short, erect, c. 5-8-leaved. Leaves erect, laterally compressed, linear, gradually narrowed towards the apex, acute, split above the base, articulated, straight or slightly falcate, carnose, the middle leaf very long, 3.5-12 by 0.35-0.53 cm; sheaths tightly conduplicate, in the basal part compressed-tubular, 0.85-1.4 cm long. Inflorescence with a short peduncle, laxly very many-flowered, peduncle 2.5-3.5 cm long, with several appressed, oblong, concave, in the apical part erose, membranous, 0.34 cm long, small scales that become larger towards the base; rachis grooved, 16-18.5 cm long. Floral bracts appressed, the clasping pedicel, oblong, more or less ovate, obtuse or apiculate, especially in the apical part with irregular margins, without nerves, thinly membranous, to 0.36 cm long, becoming smaller upwards. Flowers mostly in groups of four, seemingly whorled, widely patent, 0.35 cm diam. Sepals reflexed. Median sepal appressed to the ovary, subovate-oblong, convex, margins revolute, 1-nerved, 0.18 by 0.08 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong, subacute, margins revolute, strongly convex, 1-nerved, 0.18 by 0.07 cm. Petals widely patent, margins revolute, linear, convex, when flattened oblanceolate, obtuse, 1-nerved, 0.2 by 0.05-0.06 cm. Lip parallel with the column, concave, 3-lobed, 3-nerved, at the base with two longitudinal, erect, laterally compressed, triangular, obtuse calli, lip when flattened in outline 5-angled, 0.16 by 0.1 cm, lateral lobes erect, porrect, vertical, free part quadrangular, obliquely truncate, mid-lobe recurved, surpassing the lateral lobes, broadly ovate, shortly acuminate, rather obtuse, in the basal part with recurved margins, convex, somewhat fleshy, 0.07 by 0.08 cm. Column 0.1 cm long; clinandrium transverse, deeply concave, at the apex broadly and shortly emarginate, auricles porrect, triangular, obtuse, concave. Anther cucullate, 0.05 cm long, at the apex strongly prolonged, in outline 5-angular, apex rounded, base truncate. Stigma semi-orbicular. Ovary minutely muriculate-puberulous, 0.06 cm long; pedicel glabrous, except for the apex, 0.33-0.35 cm long. (After Smith, 1915).

Colours: Flower, including the ovary, white, lip and column green.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude 0-25 m.

Flowering time in the wild: January, October.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 365-1M.JPG

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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