Dendrobium erectopatens

Dendrobium erectopatens J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 2 (1911) 10; Nova Guinea 12, 1 (1913) 52, t. 15, fig. 41.

Type: Gjellerup s.n. (North Coast New Guinea) (holo BO; ?430, Hollandia, ?iso L).

Stems elongated, slender, in cross-section elliptic, more than 25 cm by 1.75 mm, internodes 0.85-0.9 cm long. Leaf sheaths 0.23 cm wide. Leaves erect-patent, twisted at the base so as to lie in one plane, lanceolate, 3-4 by 0.75-0.95 cm, apex strongly unequally bidentate. Inflorescences lateral from the stem, 2-flowered. Pedicel and ovary 1.25 cm long. Flowers c. 2 cm across. Dorsal sepal 1.2 cm by 5.5 mm; mentum 0.65 cm long, broadly rounded. Petals 1.15 cm by 4.5 mm. Lip weakly 3-lobed, when flattened 1 by 0.44 cm across the lateral lobes, with a simple basal keel; midlobe 0.48 by 0.57 cm. Column 0.45 cm long; column-foot 0.6 cm long.
(after Smith, 1913).

Colours: Flower yellowish white, lip at the base light violet, or flowers pale waxy yellow, lip deeper yellow, the keel bright yellow; anther yellow.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude 20 to 900 m.

Flowering time in the wild: March, July-November.

Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Puncak Jaya and Jayapura Regencies); Papua New Guinea (East Sepik Province).

Map: EREPAMAP.JPG [Dendrobium erectopatens J.J.Sm., distribution map.]

Notes: In the shape of the flowers Dendrobium erectopatens is quite similar to Dendrobium igneum, but in the colour, and especially in habit the two species are clearly distinct.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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