Cadetia platyloba

Cadetia platyloba Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58 (1922) 93.

Type: Ledermann 8414 (holo B, lost).

Rhizome very short. Stems crowded, narrowly cylindrical, 1.3-2 cm by 2 mm, 1-leaved. Leaves erect, linear, 3-5 by 0.3-0.5 cm, apex minutely mucronate. Inflorescences 1-flowered. Pedicel and ovary 2-2.5 cm long, sharply 3-angled in cross section. Flower c. 1 cm across. Sepals elliptic, 0.55-0.6 cm long, apex shortly acuminate; mentum falcate-conical, 0.25 cm long, narrowly obtuse. Petals subfalcate-linear, slightly widened at the base, 0.5-0.53 cm long, apex subacute. Lip clawed, 3-lobed in basal third of the blade, claw ligulate at the base, blade 0.5 by 0.3 cm across the lateral lobes, on the disc densely minutely papillose, with a low bilobulate lamella between the lateral lobes; lateral lobes narrowly oblong-falcate, in basal half papillose, apex obtuse; midlobe transversely oblong, 0.55 cm wide, apiculate. Column 0.27 cm long, below the stigma densely papillose, stelidia apiculate.
(after Schlechter, 1922).

Colours: Flower greenish white.

Habitat: Epiphyte lower montane forest. Altitude 1050 m.

Flowering time in the wild: August.

Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (East Sepik province: Hunstein Range).

Map: PLALOMAP.JPG [Cadetia platyloba Schltr., distribution map.]

Notes: Cadetia platyloba is only known from the original description, the type material being lost. It appears to be similar to Cadetia finisterrae.

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.

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