Dendrobium tumoriferum

Dendrobium tumoriferum J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 39 (1910) 11; Nova Guinea 8, 3 (1911) 551, t. 88B.

Type: Römer, von 252 (holo BO).

Stems compressed, 18 mm wide across the leaf-bases, internodes widened towards the apex, 0.45-0.55 cm long, up to 2.3 mm wide. Leaf sheaths tubular, laterally compressed, longer than the internodes, 0.45 cm wide. Leaves patent, equitant, laterally compressed, narrowly lanceolate, 1.9-2.3 by 0.36-0.4 cm, the sides convex, base obliquely rounded, apex acute, apiculate. Inflorescences arising laterally from the leaf-axils, 1-flowered, very short, enveloped by densely overlapping, broadly ovate, subulate-acuminate, up to 0.5 cm long scales. Ovary 0.25 cm long. Flower 0.85 cm long, carnose. Dorsal sepal ovate, 0.47 cm by 2.3 mm, 3-nerved at the base, apex obtuse, conico-apiculate. Lateral sepals obliquely triangular, 0.46 cm long, 5.3 mm wide at the base, 5-nerved, apex acute; mentum conical, 0.38 cm long, curved, obtuse. Petals obliquely triangular-lanceolate, 0.28 cm by 1 mm, 1-nerved, convex, apex recurved, acute. Lip oblong-elliptic, very fleshy, 0.57 by 0.25 cm, in apical 2/5 with thickened, papillose, cushion-like swollen margins, apex conical, acute, porrect. Column 0.14 cm long, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules concave, rounded, the median subulate; stigma semilunate; column-foot at an acute angle to the ovary, oblong, 0.4 cm long, strongly curved, concave, truncate.
(after Smith, 1911).

Colours: Not recorded.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland swamp forest.

Flowering time in the wild: September.

Distribution: New Guinea, Solomon Islands.

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Merauke Regency: Lorentz River).

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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