Podochilus warianus

Podochilus warianus Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 328

Type: Schlechter 19884 (holo B, lost); para: Schlechter 17473 (B, lost); 19427 (B, lost; AMES, K)

Epiphytic, decumbent, very small, up to 15 cm long. Rhizome filiform, slender, stem-like; roots flexuose, glabrous, rather thick. Stems and branches filiform, very slender, more or less flexuose, rooting, covered with clasping leaf-sheaths, glabrous, densely leafy. Leaves erect-patent, linear or linear-lanceolate, obliquely apiculate, at the base cuneate, glabrous, 0.3-0.5 cm long, 0.08-0.13 cm wide. Inflorescence usually terminal, sometimes lateral, short, 2-3-flowered, together with the short peduncle up to 0.5 cm long. Floral bracts pendent, ovate-lanceolate, acute, little more than half as long as the ovary. Flowers glabrous, patent. Sepals broadly ovate, minutely apiculate, 0.2 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, at the base along the front margin lobed-dilated and connate; mentum top-shaped, inflated at the apex, with four humps, 0.15 cm long. Petals obliquely oblong-elliptic, obtuse, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip obovate-spathulate, narrowed at the base, 0.3 cm long, above the middle 0.1 cm wide, with a suborbicular, retuse, concave appendage below the point of attachment. Column very short; foot slender, with incurved apex; rostellum lanceolate-triangular, apex shortly notched. Anther ovate-cordate, in front 3-apiculate, umbonate; pollinia obliquely clavate; stipe slender, linear, somewhat dilated towards the apex, slightly concave, longer than the pollinia; viscidium minute, rounded. Ovary and pedicel glabrous, clavate, c. 0.2 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)

Colours: Flowers white, petals with a red spot.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 450 to 900 m.

Flowering time in the wild: March, May, June.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 568-146M.JPG.

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.

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