Dendrobium uncipes

Dendrobium uncipes J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 3 (1912) 72; Nova Guinea 12, 1 (1913) 41, t. 12, fig. 31.

Type: Gjellerup 568 (holo BO).

An epiphytic herb. Pseudobulbs ovoid, c. 8-angled, 1.65 by 1 cm, brownish-yellow, 2-leaved at apex. Leaves fleshy-coriaceous, shortly petiolate, ovoid, narrowed and unequally bidentate at apex, about 3 by 1.5 cm, dark green. Inflorescence erect, longer than the leaf, about 3-flowered; peduncle 3.6 cm long, somewhat verrucose above; bracts triangular, acute, concave, 3.7 mm long. Flowers small. Dorsal sepal oblong-ovate, bidentate at apex, 10 by 6 mm, minutely furfuraceous-punctate on outer surface; lateral sepals obliquely oblong-elliptic, obtuse, 8.25 by 8.5 mm; mentum subsaccate, compressed, 5.3 mm long. Petals uncurved, falcate, oblong-oblanceolate, obtuse, minutely erose on margins, 8.25 by 2.4 mm. Lip shortly clawed, strongly 3-lobed, 6.3 by 12.7 mm; side-lobes spreading, narrowly elliptic, subacute; midlobe bifid with a blunt mucro, the sinus, with each lobule resembling a smaller side-lobe; callus fleshy, 3-ridged, half length of lip. Column 3 mm long; foot incurved, 5 mm long.
(after Cribb, 1983).

Colours: Flowers fleshy, yellow-brown with a whitish mentum.

Habitat: Epiphytic in lower montane forest. Altitude 900 m.

Flowering time in the wild: June. Flowers last up to three months (fide Spence 1997).

Distribution: New Guinea.

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Jayapura Regency); Papua New Guinea (Sandaun Province).

Map: UNCIPMAP.JPG [Dendrobium uncipes J.J.Sm., distribution map, redrawn from P. Cribb, Kew Bull. 38 (1983) 285, map 6, with new record added.]

Notes:Dendrobium uncipes is allied to Dendrobium aberrans and Dendrobium amphigenyum. It is approached in size by young plants of both, which like many Latouria species will flower when still quite small. In its flower structure it is closer to Dendrobium amphigenyum, differing in having narrower side-lobes to the lip and distinctively coloured flowers.
(after Cribb, 1983).

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.

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