Stereosandra javanica

Stereosandra javanica Blume, Mus. Bot. Lugd. Bat. 2 (1856) 176

Type: Kuhl & van Hasselt s.n. (W. Java, Bantam Prov.) (holo L)

Rhizome oblong, somewhat flattened, in cross-section elliptic, 2.7 cm long, 1.5 cm and 1-1.3 cm diam., covered with numerous appressed, overlapping, triangular, acuminate sheaths. Inflorescence erect, laxly c. 10-flowered; peduncle 23 cm long with c. 6 tubular peduncle-scales; rachis angular, 7.75 cm long. Floral bracts lanceolate, acute, with inrolled margins, 5-nerved, to 0.9 by 0.3 cm. Flowers pendulous, not opening widely. Median sepal sublinear, gradually narrowed towards the apex, acute, 3-nerved, with dorsally thickened mid-rib, almost 0.8 cm long, slightly more than 0.15 cm wide. Lateral sepals median similar but oblique, 0.9 cm long, at the base almost 0.2 cm wide. Petals obliquely lanceolate, narrowed towards the apex, somewhat contracted in the apical part, acute, 3-nerved, with dorsally thickened mid-rib, 0.8 cm long, almost 0.2 cm wide. Lip flexuose, channelled, lanceolate, obtuse, at the base somewhat contracted and with two marginal calli, widest at c. 1/3 above the base, 3-nerved, almost 1 cm long, 0.3 cm wide. Column short, oblong, at the apex elongated, obtuse, dorsally convex, including the anther 0.35 cm long, without anther 0.15 cm long. Anther cucullate, 0.24 cm long, elongated, conduplicate, sublinear in outline, in lateral view linear-oblong, obtuse, at the base somewhat dilated, rounded-bilobulate with a small tooth. Fruit pendulous, when immature thick-oblong, in cross section obtusely triangular with the sides convex, 6-grooved; pedicel thin, 0.23 cm long. (After Smith, 1905)

Colours: Stem white with numerous thin lilac dots. Floral bracts white. Sepals and petals white with a violet central streak at the apex; column white; ovary white with pale lilac ribs, darker when young, pedicel white.

Habitat: Terrestrial in hill forest; 200 to 800 m.

Flowering time in the wild: August, September, October.

Distribution: Malesia (Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, New Guinea, Philippines), Thailand, ?Laos, Vietnam, Taiwan, Solomon Islands.

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 663-1M.JPG.

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