Anoectochilus rhombilabius

Anoectochilus rhombilabius Ormerod, Lindleyana 17 (2002) 189, fig. 1

Type: Dickson 153 (holo K)

Small, terrestrial herb 3-6 cm tall, up to 18 cm tall with fruiting inflorescence. Stem to 3.5 cm long, 1- to 3-leaved. Leaves subrosulate, broadly ovate to suborbicular, shortly acuminate, 2.3-4 by 1.9-2.5 cm; petiole to 0.4 cm long before dilating into the sheath. Inflorescence 6-7.5 cm long, elongating to 15.5 cm in fruit, 1- or 2-flowered, pubescent; peduncle scales three, the lowest almost leaf-like, clasping the stem with its lower third, ovate, acuminate, to 1.6 by 0.4 cm. Floral bract ovate-elliptic, acute, 1 by 0.5 cm. Ovary cylindrical-fusiform, pubescent, 2 cm long. Flowers pubescent outside. Median sepal ovate-elliptic, acute, forming a helmet-like structure with the petals, 1.2 by 0.45 cm. Lateral sepals broadly oblong-lanceolate, acute, 1.2 by 0.35-0.45 cm. Petals oblong-ligulate, acute, 1.1 by 0.25 cm. Lip 3-lobed, spurred; spur cylindrical, obtuse, with two fleshy internal appendages just below the middle, 0.8 by 0.2-0.25 cm; hypochile obcordate, 0.5 by 0.5 cm, distal margins inrolled, broadly elliptic, obtuse. 0.1 by 0.1 cm; mesochile linear, tubular, 0.15 cm long, on each side with about three filaments 0.4 cm or more long; epichile transversely rhombic, apiculate, 0.3 by 0.4-0.5 cm. Column 0.6 cm long, with two remote stigma lobes each with a sterile subquadrate lobule. Column wings lanceolate-ligulate, subacute, 0.6 by 0.13 cm. (After Ormerod, 2002).

Colours: Leaves dark red with reddish pink to pink reticulate veins, pink below. Flower pinkish white, lip white.

Habitat: Terrestrial. Altitude 1350 m.

Flowering time in the wild: July.

Distribution: Malesia (Moluccas, New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 43-129M.JPG

Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.

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