Cadetia legareiensis

Cadetia legareiensis (J.J.Sm.) Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58 (1922) 91.

Basionym: Dendrobium legareiense.

Rhizome creeping, branching. Pseudobulbs crowded, in two rows along the rhizome, 1-leaved, ellipsoid to subcylindrical, 0.55-1 by 0.27-0.37 cm. Leaves patent, elliptic to oblong, sometimes subovate, 0.9-1.15 by 0.47-0.85 cm, rigidly carnose, with a 0.6-1.5 mm long petiole, apex obtuse, minutely bidentate, mucronate. Inflorescences arising terminally from the leaf axil and subterminally below the abaxial side of the leaf, 1-flowered. Pedicel and ovary 1.3 cm long, 6-angular to 6-ribbed. Flower c. 1 cm across. Dorsal sepal reflexed, ovate, 0.38 cm by 2.4 mm, apex acute. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, 0.48 cm by 3 mm, apex subacute, obtusely apiculate; mentum 0.44-0.57 cm long. Petals obliquely lanceolate, 0.37 cm by 1 mm, acute. Lip 3-lobed, blade 0.7 by across the lateral lobes 0.38 cm; lateral lobes 0.75-1.5 mm long; midlobe 0.4 by 0.48 cm, very fleshy, inside papillose. Column 0.2 cm long, stelidia triangular, acute, filament triangular tooth-like; column-foot pubescent inside.
(after Smith, 1916 & 1934).

Colours: Flower white.

Habitat: Epiphyte in rainforest. Altitude 300-600 m.

Flowering time in the wild: June, September.

Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Nabire and Puncak Jaya Regencies).

Map: LEGARMAP.JPG [Cadetia legareiensis (J.J.Sm.) Schltr., distribution map.]

Notes: Cadetia legareiensis is similar to Cadetia chionantha, but clearly different in the creeping rhizome, broader leaves, and in the larger lateral lobes of the lip, which lacks a callus at the base of the midlobe.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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