Genus Dendrobium section Distichophyllae
Genus Dendrobium sect. Distichophyllae Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind, 5, 711 (1890). Type species: Dendrobium revolutum Lindl.
Synonyms:
- Genus Dendrobium sect. Distichophyllum Schltr., Bot.Jahrb. Syst. 39 (1906) 68. Type species: Dendrobium revolutum Lindl.
- Genus Dendrobium sect. Revoluta Kränzl. in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 50. II. B. 21 (1910) 176. Type species: Dendrobium revolutum Lindl.
- Distichorchis M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones, Orchadian 13 (2002) 487. Type species: Distichorchis revoluta (Lindl.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones (basionym: Dendrobium revolutum Lindl.).
Rhizomes short to somewhat elongated, creeping. Stems clustered, cane-like, with many internodes, elongated and slender, rather fleshy, unbranched, with or without continuing apical growth during several seasons, longitudinally grooved, many-leaved,. Leaves usually with many, equal-sized and regularly arranged, glabrous; at the base with a leaf sheath. Inflorescences lateral, short, 1- to few-flowered. Flowers rather small to medium-sized, usually resupinate, lasting at least several days. Sepals free; mentum prominent, spur-like . Lip not mobile, adnate to the column foot, often 3-lobed, rather fleshy, usually with few to several low crests, or with prominent papillae or calli.
Burma, Thailand, Indochina, China, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia.
Genus Dendrobium section Distichophyllae contains 35 species; in New Guinea 2 species, neither is endemic.
Epiphytes in lowland and lower montane forest.
- Family Orchidaceae
- Subfamily Epidendroideae
- Tribe Dendrobieae
- Subtribe Dendrobiinae
- Genus Dendrobium
- Section Distichophyllae
- Lavarack, B., W. Harris & G. Stocker. 2000. Dendrobium and its relatives. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon.
Genus Dendrobium section Distichophyllae Schltr. is close to sect. Brevisaccata Kränzl. (in particular to Dendrobium viridiflorum F.M.Bailey), which differs in having papillose roots, racemose or branching inflorescences, and a mobile lip with a basal appendage. It is even closer to sect. Conostalix Kränzl., which differs in having leaf-sheaths covered with short black hairs. See under that section for some additional comparative remarks. Section Distichophyllae, usually wrongly called Distichophyllum, has had its main development in Borneo, where some rather spectacular species occur (e.g. Dendrobium piranha C.L.Chan & P.J.Cribb). In contrast, those of New Guinea are not particularly noteworthy from a cultivator's point of view.
Genus Dendrobium section Distichophyllae Hook.f. contains 35 species; in New Guinea 2 species:
Dendrobium austrocaledonicum
Dendrobium hosei
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Genus Dendrobium section Distichophyllae
Dendrobium austrocaledonicum Schltr., habit, photo N.E.G. Cruttwell, based on Cruttwell (1/70, PNG, Milne Bay Prov., Mt. Garatun, near Agaun)