Cadetia echinocarpa

Cadetia echinocarpa Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 439; 21 (1923) t. 152, fig. 569.

Type: Schlechter 17909 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, E, G, K, L, NSW).

Rhizome very short. Stems crowded, slender, 2-7 cm by 1.5 mm, 1-leaved. Leaves ligulate, 3.5-5 by 0.6-1 cm, apex obtuse, shortly bidentate. Inflorescences terminal from the leaf axil, 1-flowered, spathe 0.5 cm long. Pedicel and ovary 1.5 cm long, densely covered with papillae and recurved pointed appendages. Flower c. 0.8 cm across. Dorsal sepal broadly elliptic, 0.45 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely subquadrate; mentum oblongoid-cylindrical, 0.2 cm long, obtuse. Petals narrowly linear, 0.6 cm long, apex narrowly obtuse. Lip 3-lobed, sparsely pubescent inside except at the base; lateral lobes small, triangular, glabrous, acute; midlobe sharply reflexed, very broadly reniform-cordate, appearing almost forked, 0.4 cm wide, obtuse. Column short, in front minutely pubescent, stelidia acute, bifid, filament minute, tooth-like.
(after Schlechter, 1912).

Colours: Flower white, midlobe of lip yellow, apex of column red.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude 50 m.

Flowering time in the wild: July.

Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Madang Province).

Map: ECHINMAP.JPG [Cadetia echinocarpa Schltr., distribution map.]

Notes: Cadetia echinocarpa is closely related to Cadetia umbellata, but may be distinguished by the pubescent midlobe of the lip.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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