Pedilochilus grandifolium

Pedilochilus grandifolium P.Royen, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2 (1979) 273, fig. 96

Type: Hoogland & Pullen 5605 (holo CANB)

Large, up to 28 em high, epiphytic herb. Rhizome creeping, branched, pale creamy, covered with broadly ovate, 2-8 by 27 mm large bracts, rather obtuse, 1-nerved, glabrous. Pseudobulbs glabrous, rather close together, at right angle to the rhizome, elongate-ovoid, 2-3.2 by 0.5-0.8 cm, at base with same type of bracts as along rhizome. Leaves erect, subcoriaceous, glabrous, lanceolate-linear, 18-24 by 0.9-1.2 cm, acute by the elongate midrib, petiole-like at base, many-nerved, midrib only on underside more distinct than the other nerves. Inflorescence in bundles of 2-4. Peduncle glabrous, 1.5-3 cm long, at base with several bracts, these ovate, 2-5 by 1.5-4 mm, acute, 1-nerved, glabrous. Floral bract glabrous, tubular 3-6 mm long, transversely truncate. Pedicel glabrous, 5-13 mm long. Ovary glabrous, narrowly claviform, 5-7 by 1 mm, 6-grooved. Median sepal glabrous on outside, subdensely pilose on inside, margin fimbriate, spathulate-elliptic, 13 by 5 mm, obtuse, 3-nerved, nerves archingly joined, midrib crested on outside above the junction of the nerves. Lateral sepals glabrous on outside, subdensely pilose on inside and along margin, obliquely elliptic, 17 by 6 mm, obtuse and subcucullate at tip, 5-nerved, all nerves prominent on outside. Lateral petals finely papillate along margin, obliquely hatchet shaped, sigmoid, 6 by 3 mm, obtuse, 1-nerved. Lip glabrous, 10 by 5 mm, elliptic-obovoid in outline, epichilium ovate-ligulate, 3 by 2 mm, 3-lobed at base, obtuse, slightly constricted in the middle, mesochilium 8 by 5 mm, 5-ribbed, all prominulous on either side, median one impressed below the epichilium and much stronger raised on inside in basal part, hypochilium at tip with 2 lateral obliquely ovate-falcate, 1 by 1 mm large appendages, with a narrow median longitudinal crest in between, behind this crest a transverse shield-like appendage, with 3 crests behind this shield running towards foot of column. Column slender, 1.5 mm long, clinandrium entire. Stelidia subulate 1.5 mm long, curved upwards. Anther helmetshaped, 1 mm long, retuse at base, rounded at tip, connective thickened and papillate. Pollinia 2, obliquely ellipsoid, 0.7 by 0.2 mm. Column-foot slightly curved, short. Capsule not seen. (After van Royen, 1979)

Colours: Flowers creamy white with purple spots.

Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 534-14M.jpg.

Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte, requires shaded position.

%LABEL% (%SOURCE%)