Sarcochilus odoratus

Sarcochilus odoratus Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 965

Type: Schlechter 16569 (holo B, lost; iso BO, E, K, L, MO, NSW)

Epiphytic, pendent, almost stemless; roots flexuose, glabrous. Leaves pendent, linear-ligulate, subobtuse, apex slightly bilobulate, 14-23 cm long, near the middle 1.2-1.6 cm wide. Inflorescences very short, 1-flowered; peduncle with a few small scales, about 1 cm long. Floral bracts very small, much shorter than the ovary. Flower very sweetly fragrant, glabrous. Sepals lanceolate-elliptic, acute, 1.3 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals similar to the sepals, subobtuse, 1.2 cm long, oblique. Lip 3-lobed, fleshy, 0.7 cm long, when flattened between the tips of the lateral lobes 1.3 cm wide, at the base with two swellings, in the middle with a concavity representing the mouth of the fleshy spur, above the middle with a conical obtuse callus, in front of this with a very small subulate appendage; lateral lobes subfalcate-oblong, obtuse, erect; mid-lobe [‘spur’] square, fleshy, broadly obtuse, a little shorter than the lateral lobes. Column narrowed at the base. Anther rhombic-cucullate, apiculate; pollinia obliquely oblongoid; stipe oblanceolate-linear, as long as the pollinia; viscidium obtriangular, fairly large. Ovary sessile, cylindrical, glabrous, c. 1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)

Colours: Flowers light yellow.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 200 m.

Flowering time in the wild: September.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 625-152M.JPG.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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