Plocoglottis torricellensis

Plocoglottis torricellensis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 410

Type: Schlechter 14563 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BRI)

Leaves sessile; sheaths 6.9 cm long; blade 17.3-29 by 2.2-2.45 cm, index 7-13, narrowly lanceolate to linear, base cuneate, apex acuminate, glabrous, with 4 prominent veins underneath. Inflorescence 77 cm long, 34-flowered. Peduncle 45 by 0.2 cm, pubescent, internodes 7, 0.2-13.6 cm long; peduncle scales 2-2.3 cm long, tubular, apex obtuse to acuminate, sparsely pubescent; rachis 32 by 0.13 cm, densely pubescent, internodes 36, 0.6-9.6 cm long. Sterile bracts 2; floral bracts 0.91 by 0.45 cm, lanceolate, apex acuminate, moderately pubescent, with 6-8 distinct veins. Flowers 1.3 cm wide. Median sepal 1.74 by 0.5 cm, lanceolate, apex apiculate; sparsely pubescent on both sides, thin-textured, with 7 distinct veins. Lateral sepals 1.7 by 0.44 cm, lanceolate, subfalcate, base oblique with short lobule, apex acuminate; sparsely adaxially pubescent, with 8 distinct veins. Petals 1.49 by 0.2 cm, linear-lanceolate, subfalcate, base oblique, apex acute, sparsely abaxially pubescent, thin-textured, lateral margin thin, with 5 distinct veins. Lip in total 1.1 by 0.61 cm, adnate to column-foot with basal lamellae, quadrangular, with 11 distinct veins, at base with a small sac formed by column-foot and lip base 0.2 cm long; blade with two thin basal lamellae, deeply grooved along the median of adaxial side, on the adaxial side with two thick keels, extending from base to below apex, lateral margins in basal half rather thin, entire, at apex thin, erose, apex abruptly truncate, in the middle with 0.2-0.28 cm long, triangular, acuminate acumen; glabrous. Column 0.65 by 0.32 cm, clavate excluding lateral wings, sparsely abaxially pubescent, apical margin erose. Stigma obdeltoid, rostellum elliptic. Pedicel with ovary 1.7 by 0.1-0.2 cm, clavate. (After Eang Hourt, unpublished manuscript 2004)

Colours: Leaves mid green, sepals and petals (orange)-yellow, with purple blotches, lip white, creamy yellow.

Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland and lower montane forest; 150 to 800 m.

Flowering time in the wild: April, August.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 564-53M.JPG.

Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.

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