Dendrobium subbilobatum

Dendrobium subbilobatum Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58 (1923) 118.

Type: Ledermann 11624 (holo B, lost).

Rhizome very short. Stems crowded, erect, slightly laterally compressed, slender, unbranched, to 50 cm long, many-leaved. Leaf sheaths entirely covering the stem, near their apex minutely rugulose. Leaves suberect, linear, slightly narrowed to the apex, 6-9 by 0.4-0.5 cm, apex unequally subacutely bilobulate; rigid. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem, 1-flowered. Pedicel and ovary 0.6 cm long, clavate, glabrous. Flower not resupinated, c. 1 cm across, fleshy. Dorsal sepal elliptic, 0.75 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely very broadly triangular-ovate, 0.75 cm long, apex obtuse; mentum triangular-oblongoid, 0.7 cm long, obtuse. Petals obliquely ligulate-oblong, 0.7 cm long, apex obtuse. Lip curved, when flattened obtriangular, 0.8 by 1 cm, with a shiny, raised, linear basal patch extending to the apical fourth, apex subbilobate with a small obtuse tooth in the sinus. Column rather thick, 0.3 cm long, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules rounded, the median shorter, triangular, obtuse; column-foot 0.7 cm long.
(after Schlechter, 1923).

Colours: Flower lemon-yellow.

Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 2070 m.

Flowering time in the wild: May.

Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (East Sepik Province: Schrader Mountains).

Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.

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