Gunnarella gracilis

Gunnarella gracilis (Schltr.) Senghas, Orchidee 39 (1988) 73

Basionym: Chamaeanthus gracilis

Epiphyte, slender, subpatent, 5-12 cm long; roots flexuose, glabrous; stem hardly developed; leaves erect-patent, 4-8, obliquely ligulate, unequally and obtusely bilobulate, gradually somewhat narrowed towards the base, 2-5 cm long, near the middle 0.35-0.6 cm wide; Inflorescence somewhat patent, slender, almost two times longer than the leaves, bearing flowers to just above the base, rather laxly many-flowered, gradually elongated; bracts ovate, acute, about as long as the ovary. Flowers very small, glabrous. Sepals elliptic, obtuse, 0.25 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, towards the base in front somewhat dilated. Petals obliquely ovate-ligulate, obtuse, about as long as the sepals. Lip somewhat fleshy, elliptic, broadly obtuse, 0.13 cm long. Column short, column-foot long, curved. Anther reniform-cucullate; pollinia obliquely quadrate, the posterior ones clearly smaller, appressed, stipe linear, about as long as the pollinia, viscidium small rounded. Ovary sessile, cylindrical, glabrous, 0.1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914, as Chamaeanthus gracilis Schltr.)

Colours: Flower yellowish white.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude 150 m.

Flowering time in the wild: October.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 340-6M.JPG

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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