Diplocaulobium tipula (J.J.Sm.) Kraenzl., in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 50. II. B. 21 (1910) 342.
Basionym: Dendrobium tipula.
Rhizome short. Pseudobulbs crowded, 1-leaved, fusiform at the base, very slender in upper part, 14-24 cm long, the swollen basal part c. 2.5 cm by 0.6-0.7 cm, narrow part 0.2-0.3 cm wide, near the apex 0.4-0.6 cm wide. Leaves lanceolate-oblong, 7.5-8.5 by 1.8-1.9 cm, apex bidentate, coriaceous, keeled below, grooved above. Inflorescences arising in succession from the apex of the pseudobulb, fasciculate, 1-flowered; peduncle 0.7 cm long. Floral bract membranous. Pedicel 2 cm long; ovary 0.25 cm long. Flower resupinated, c. 4.5 cm across. Dorsal sepal linear-filiform, slightly widened to the base, 2.6 cm by 3.6 mm, concave. Lateral sepals linear-filiform, strongly obliquely widened to the base, 2.45 cm by 5.7 mm, mentum incurved, c. 0.5 cm long, obtuse. Petals linear-filiform, slightly widened to the base, 2.1 cm by 1 mm. Lip 3-lobed in basal third, 1.1 cm long, cuneate at the base, entirely minutely pubescent, with two parallel basal keels extending to the base of the blade of the midlobe, the keels straight in basal part, strongly undulate on the claw of the midlobe; lateral lobes erect, rounded, in front subcrenulate, just extending to the apex of the column; midlobe large, clawed, 0.8 cm long, the claw quadrangular-oblong, 0.3 cm long, margins incurved, crenate, undulate, the blade semiorbicular, 0.43 by 0.6 cm, undulate, obtuse. Column rather thickly conical, 0.3 cm long, clinandrium denticulate, stigma oblong; column-foot at an obtuse angle to the ovary, strongly incurved, 0.47 cm long, concave, with 3 ribs, apex truncate. Anther cucullate, in front 3-dentate, the median tooth obtuse.
(after Smith, 1909).
Colours: Sepals and petals reddish, yellowish at the base. Lip ochrish yellow, the lateral lobes with transverse brown spots, the claw of the midlobe with brown spots. Column yellowish, the foot with brown markings.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest.
Flowering time in the wild: Not recorded.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Merauke Regency: Lorentz River).
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.