Calanthe leucosceptrum

Calanthe leucosceptrum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 388

Type: Schlechter 19319 (holo B, lost)

Terrestrial, erect, up to 80 cm high; rhizome very short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, shortly villose; leaves erect-patent or suberect, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, below the middle somewhat narrowed, up to 80 cm long, near the middle up to 3 cm wide; Inflorescence straight, terete, glabrous, with a few large, distant, acuminate, clasping scales, up to 55 cm long; rachis cylindrical, densely many-flowered, up to 15 cm long; bracts soon caducous. Flowers slender pedicellate, soon becoming almost patent. Sepals elliptic, apiculate, glabrous, 1 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, at the base somewhat dilated along the front margin. Petals oblique, broadly elliptic, obtuse, glabrous; a little shorter than the sepals. Lip 3-lobed, 0.8 cm long, between the apices of the lateral lobes 0.55 cm wide, glabrous, smooth, lateral lobes subporrect, obliquely falcate-ovate, subacute, very small, mid-lobe oblong-quadrate, in front truncate with a minute apiculum, much larger than the lateral lobes, spur somewhat curved, below the apex slightly dilated, subfiliform-cylindrical, glabrous, 2 cm long. Column towards the apex somewhat dilated, in front obliquely truncate, auricles very insignificant, clinandrium elongated, obtusely 3-dentate. Anther ovate-cucullate, subacute, glabrous, with a thick, ovate umbo; pollinia obliquely clavate, about equal-sized, viscidium small, rounded. Ovary with a slender pedicel, clavate, glabrous, 2.5 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)

Colours: Flower white.

Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest. Altitude 300 m.

Flowering time in the wild: April.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 101-199M.JPG

Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, keep in shade.

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