Thelasis pygmaea

Thelasis pygmaea (Griff.) Blume, Fl. Javae, n.s., 1 (1858) 19, fig. 1-3

Basionym: Euproboscis pygmaea

Small epiphyte. Pseudobulbs clustered, 0.5-1 cm long, 0.5-1 cm wide, bearing 2 unequal leaves at the apex. Leaves oblong, gradually tapering at base, the larger 3-4 by 0.5 cm, the other 1-2 by 0.3-0.5 cm, with a prominent central mid-vein. Inflorescences arising from the base of the pseudobulb, 8-13 cm long; rachis 2.5-4.5 cm long, many-flowered. Floral bracts lanceolate, acute, 0.1-0.2 cm long, at right-angles to the rachis, persistent. Flowers opening a few at a time, small. Ovary triangular in cross section. Median sepal oblong, 0.25 by 0.1 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong, keeled, 0.3 by 0.15 cm. Petals oblong, 0.2-0.25 by 0.08 cm. Lip oblong, widest at the base, obtuse, 0.23 by 0.1 cm. Column 0.15 cm long. (After Lewis & Cribb, 1991)

Colours: Flowers pale green at base becoming white towards the apex.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest.

Flowering time in the wild: Not known.

Distribution: Malesia (Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, Lesser Sunda Islands, ?Moluccas, New Guinea, Philippines), Thailand, ?Laos, Vietnam, Nepal, India (Sikkim, Deccan), Burma, China, Andaman Islands, Solomon Islands.

Distribution in New Guinea: Unspecified.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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