Cadetia section Sarcocadetia Schltr.,
Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 424.
Rhizome very short to much elongated, creeping or rarely erect. Pseudobulbs almost round to weakly 4-angled in cross-section, with rounded angles. Inflorescences arising from the leaf-axil and in addition from a point just below the apex of the pseudobulb on the abaxial side of the leaf; base of the inflorescence usually not enveloped by a folded spathe, as in sections Cadetia and Pterocadetia, but by a scarious tubular scale, sometimes in addition by a spathe. Flowers lasting at least several days. Ovary glabrous, 6-winged to triangular to V-shaped in cross-section.
Distribution
Borneo, the Philippines, Sulawesi, Moluccas, New Guinea. About 29 species; in New Guinea c. 26 species.
Habitat
Epiphytes in lowland rainforest, but predominantly in montane forest, also in subalpine vegetation, up to 3800 m above sea level.
Notes
Almost all montane species of Cadetia belong to sect. Sarcocadetia. This section can be recognised by the presence of two types of inflorescence on each pseudobulb: one terminal, arising from the leaf-axil, and one subterminal ('displaced'), arising just below the apex of the pseudobulb on the abaxial side of the leaf. Similar 'displaced' inflorescences are known from many species of Flickingeria and Dendrobium sect. Microphytanthe. While in sections Cadetia and Pterocadetia each stem may produce several inflorescences over a long period, in sect. Sarcocadetia each 'eye' produces only one or two (very rarely up to 4) inflorescences.