Diplocaulobium pentanema

Diplocaulobium pentanema (Schltr.) Kraenzl., in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 50. II. B. 21 (1910) 339.

Basionym: Dendrobium pentanema.

Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs crowded, 1-leaved, slender, thickened to the base, (length given as 0.3-0.4 cm by Schlechter, certainly a mistake) at the base 1 cm wide, probably ancipitous. Leaves oblong-ligulate, 10-15 by 3 cm, apex obtuse, bilobulate, coriaceous. Inflorescences arising in succession from the apex of the pseudobulb, 1-flowered. Pedicel and ovary 6-7 cm long, slender, glabrous. Flower resupinated, c. 7 cm across. Dorsal sepal at the base ovate-lanceolate, filiform-elongated to the apex, 3.3-3.5 cm long. Lateral sepals at the base ovate-lanceolate, filiform-elongated to the apex, 3.3-3.5 cm long, mentum conical, obtuse. Petals obliquely lanceolate, to the apex filiform-elongated, 2.5 cm long. Lip 3-lobed a little above the middle, 1 by 0.6 cm (across lateral lobes), with two parallel keels extending from the base of the lip to the base of the midlobe where they merge, lateral lobes short, obtuse; midlobe subcuneate-rectangular, apex shortly apiculate. Column short, clinandrium with a median triangular-apiculate tooth; column-foot well-developed. Anther rounded-cucullate, glabrous.
(after Schlechter, 1905).

Colours: Sepals and petals white with yellowish tips, lip white with purple-veined lateral lobes, in the middle yellow-green.

Habitat: Epiphyte in hill forest. Altitude 600 m.

Flowering time in the wild: July.

Distribution: Bismarck Archipelago (endemic).

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

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.

%LABEL% (%SOURCE%)