Diplocaulobium tentaculatum

Diplocaulobium tentaculatum (Schltr.) Kraenzl., in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 50. II. B. 21 (1910) 334.

Basionym: Dendrobium tentaculatum.

Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs crowded, 1-leaved, narrowly terete, at the base ellipsoid, 2.5-3.5 by 0.3 (at the base) to 0.1 (near the apex) cm. Leaves linear, 2-3 by 0.2 cm, apex obtuse, unequally bilobulate, coriaceous. Inflorescences arising in succession from the apex of the pseudobulb, 1-flowered. Pedicel and ovary 2 cm long, slender, glabrous. Flower resupinate, c. 6 cm wide. Dorsal sepal at the base lanceolate, to the apex filiform-elongate, 3 cm long, apex acuminate. Lateral sepals falcate, to the apex filiform-elongate, 3 cm by 5 mm (at the base), apex acuminate; mentum c. 6 mm long (judging from Schlechter's drawing), obtuse. Petals at the base obliquely linear-lanceolate, to the apex filiform-elongate, c. 2.8 cm long, apex acuminate. Lip 3-lobed in basal third, 1.2 by 0.4 cm, cuneate at the base, with 2 parallel rather widely spaced keels extending from the base to the middle of the midlobe, on the midlobe with a third keel in between; lateral lobes short, obtuse; midlobe lanceolate-subspathulate, margins slightly undulate, apex shortly acuminate. Column very short, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules half as long as the subulate median lobule; column-foot c. 6 mm long. Anther subglobose-cucullate, in front truncate, glabrous.
(after Schlechter, 1905).

Colours: Sepals and petals pinkish red, lip white or yellowish, the lateral lobes with red margins.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 800-1000 m.

Flowering time in the wild: April, September.

Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Sandaun Province: Torricelli Mountains).

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.

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