Pedilochilus perpusillum

Pedilochilus perpusillum P.Royen, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2 (1979) 241, fig. 85

Type: ANU (Hope) 16109 (holo CANB)

Very small, 3-7 mm high, mat-forming, epiphytic. Rhizome creeping, branched, glabrous. Pseudobulbs close together, erect, globose or obovoid-globose, 3-5 mm across, at base with 1 or 2 ovate, 2-5 by 2-3 mm large, acute bracts. Leaves spreading, coriaceous, glabrous, broadly ovate, elliptic, or obovate-orbicular, 3-4.5 by 2.5-4 mm, obtuse or retuse, base cordate and plicate, narrowed into an 0.5-1 mm long petiole-like part, Vshaped in cross-section, midrib grooved above, prominent below, margins slightly revolute. Inflorescence solitary or rarely in bundles of 2. Peduncle glabrous, 6-10 mm long, at base with 2 tubular, 2-5 mm long bracts, obliquely truncate, acute, 1nerved, and one apical bract similar to the lower bracts. Pedicel and ovary glabrous, narrowly claviform, 3-5 mm long, 6-grooved. Median sepal finely papillate along margin except lower part, otherwise glabrous, broadly orbicular-spathulate, 910.5 by 5-6 mm, rounded and apiculate, abruptly narrowed at base, 5-nerved, all nerves prominent on outside. Lateral sepals finely papillate along lower margin only, slightly obliquely elliptic, 10-11 by 5.5-6 mm, acuminate, obliquely clawed at base, 5-nerved, all nerves prominent on outside. Lateral petals glabrous, obliquely ovate-elliptic, 5.5-6 by 2-2.5 mm, sigmoid with wavy margins, 1-nerved. Lip glabrous, broadly obovoid in outline, 4.5-5.5 by 4.5-5.5 mm, epichilium ovate-triangular, 1.5-1.8 by 1.2-1.4 mm, obtuse, margins thickened, mesochilium 3-nerved, margins thickened, all nerves slightly prominent on outside, hypochilium flat above, apical lateral appendages falcate-oblong, 1-1.5 mm long, obtuse, median appendage a transverse crest. Column short and stout, 1 by 1 mm. Stelidia sigmoid, subulate, 1.2-1.5 mm long slightly curving downward. Anther obovoid in lower part, with an oblong, slightly upcurved apical part, 0.8-1 by 0.5-0.6 mm, finely papillate along the connective and along apical part. Pollinia narrowly ellipsoid, 1 mm long, each composed of 2 unequal parts. Capsule not seen. (After van Royen, 1979)

Colours: Not recorded.

Habitat: Epiphyte.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 534-27M.jpg.

Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte, requires light position.

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