Dendrobium hymenocentrum

Dendrobium hymenocentrum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 567; 21 (1923) t. 191, fig. 715.

Type: Schlechter 20000 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BO, E, G, K, L, NSW, S).

Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, erect, laterally flattened, with one to three of the basal internodes swollen, often 8-ribbed, up to 60 cm long, in basal half or more densely many-leaved, bare in apical part. Leaves bilaterally flattened, lanceolate-ligulate, falcate, 2.5-5.5 by 0.5-0.7 cm, apex acute, coriaceous. Inflorescences lateral from the upper part of the stem, fasciculate, appearing in succession, 1-flowered. Pedicel and ovary 1 cm long, slender, glabrous. Flowers resupinated, c. 2 cm long, thin-textured. Dorsal sepal triangular-ovate, 0.9 cm long, apex acute to apiculate. Lateral sepals obliquely triangular-ovate, much widened at the base, 0.9 cm long, apex acute to apiculate; mentum spur-like, cylindrical, c. 1.6 cm long, obtuse. Petals obliquely oblong, c. 0.8 cm long, apex obtusely apiculate. Lip 3-lobed in front, 2 by 1.1 cm, with a short claw at the base, cuneate in basal part, with a straight narrow keel extending from the base to just below the base of the midlobe; lateral lobes rounded, minutely undulate-subcrenulate; midlobe surpassing the lateral lobes, incised, minutely apiculate. Column very short, clinandrium weakly 3-lobulate; column-foot ligulate, 1.6 cm long, thin-textured. Anther helmet-shaped, glabrous, in front truncate.
(after Schlechter, 1912).

Colours: Sepals and petals greenish white with red veins, lip white with green keel, at the base with red veins.

Habitat: Epiphyte on trees along the coast. Altitude 15 m.

Flowering time in the wild: August.

Distribution: New Guinea, Solomon Islands.

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Pro).

Notes: Closely related to Dendrobium goldfinchii.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte, prefers light position.

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