Species Information - Appendicula fergussoniana

Appendicula fergussoniana Ormerod, Checkl. Papuasian Orch. (2017) 23, 461 (fig.).

Type: Brass 26077 (holo AMES; iso US)

Synonyms:

Terrestrials and low trunk epiphytes. Roots terete, pubescent.0.05-0.1 cm thick. Rhizome short. Stems caespitose, terete, leafy throughout, 36.5-49.0 by 0.1-0.3 cm. Leaves ligulate-lanceolate, 3.6-4.5 by 0.65-0.92 cm; leaf sheaths tubular, striate, smooth, opposite the leaf lamina with a 0.2 m deep gap; upper margins minutely erose-lacerate; apex 3-dentate. Inflorescence pseudoterminal, 2-9.4 cm long; peduncle 1-1.5 cm long, enclosed by tubular sheaths; rachis eventually long, 1-7 .9 cm long; floral bracts oblong-elliptic, reflexed, concave, green to deep purple, 0.18-0.4 by c. 0.2 cm, with acute apex. Flowers many, dense, opening in succession. Pedicel and ovary subterete cylindrical to club-shaped, c. 0.3 cm long. Median sepal ovate, 0.36-0.43 by 0.22 cm; apex obtuse to truncate; 3-5-nerved; midnerve keeled toward the apex. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, 0.5-0.58 (along the lower margin) or 0.32-0.42 cm (along the top margin) by 0.3.5 cm; midnerve keeled; apex obtuse to subacute; 3-4-nerved; mentum rounded, ellipsoid, 0.18-0.2 cm long. Petals oblong, 0.34-0.375 by 0.13-0.195 cm; apex obtuse; 1- (with 2 lateral branches on each side) or 3-nerved. Lip broadly T-shaped, 0.45-0.55 cm long; hypochile elliptic, concave, 0.25-0.3 by 0.15-0.18 cm; epichile transversely elliptic, truncate or with a short obtuse thickening, 0.175-0.25 by 0.31-0.42 cm; keels 2, on the hypochile fused and swollen , in front narrowing and separating, continuing on the epichile as low, slightly swollen, laterally curved keels. Column semiterete, 0.16-0.2 cm long; column foot c. 0.18-0.21 cm long. Fruit subfusiform, 1.7-1.8 by 0.2 cm. (After Ormerod 2017).

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