Prev Taxon: Genus Dendrobium section Fugacia
Current Genus: Genus Dendrobium Section Grastidium
Next Taxon: Genus Dendrobium section Herpetophytum
Dendrobium scorpionis
Dendrobium scorpionis Ormerod, Malesian Orchid J. 13 (2014) 54, fig. 10.
Type: C.E. Carr 10356 (holo AMES).
Synonyms:
Epiphytic herb. Rhizome short. Roots terete, 0.03–0.075 cm thick. Stem caespitose, subterete, densely leafy, 3–11 by 0.05 cm thick near the base, up to 0.3 cm wide across the leaf sheaths. Leaves obliquely erect, elliptic, 0.55–by 0.30–0.65 c; leaf sheaths tubular, truncate, with low rugulose nerves; apex emarginate to retuse. Inflorescence lateral, biflorous; peduncle c. 0.25 cm long; sheath tubular, truncate, compressed, the base oblique with lower margin 0.4 cm long and upper margin 0.25 cm long; floral bracts not seen. Flowers hardly opening, self-pollinating. Pedicel and ovary clavate, c. 0.42 cm long. Median sepal lanceolate, 0.61 by 0.2 cm e; apex subacute; 3–5-nerved. Lateral sepals falcate, obliquely ovate-lanceolate,0. 55 by 0.4 cm (0.18–0.19 cm long along midnerve); apex obtuse; 3-nerved; mentum short, subquadrate, 0.1 cm long , to column foot apex c. 0.22 cm long. Petals weakly falcate, ligulate, 0.6 by 0.1 cm; apex subacute; 3-nerved. Lip Y-shaped, 3-lobed, c. 0.25 by 0.32 cm; claw 0.08 cm long; lateral lobes falcate, oblong, 0.29 cm long along outer margin (0.18 cm long along inner margin) by 0.1 cm at the base; midlobe reniform, c. 0.03 by 0.15 cm; callus fleshy, obovoid, part on claw channelled, terminating at the base of the midlobe; apex obtuse, apiculate; 3-nerved. Column short, stout, 0.19 by 0.1 cm; stigma subquadrate, c. 0.1 cm long; column foot forward curved, c. 0.18 cm. Fig. 10.
Sepals and petals greenish-yellow. Lip paler so; keels pale golden yellow. Column greenish, column foot tipped orange; anther cap greenish-yellow.
Montane forest. Altitude 1525 m.
Malesia (New Guinea), endemic.
Papua New Guinea (Central Prov.), see map
Cool growing epiphyte.
October.
- Family Orchidaceae
- Subfamily Epidendroideae
- Tribe Dendrobieae
- Subtribe Dendrobiinae
- Genus Dendrobium
- Section Grastidium
- Species Dendrobium scorpionis
Dendrobium scorpionis Ormerod belongs to a group of species that includes D. erubescens Schltr., D. ingratum J.J. Sm., D. setosum Schltr. and Dendrobium triangulum J.J.Sm. in the broad column and the widely expanded lip with a very short midlobe, but differs in the elliptic leaves (versus linear to ligulate) and the lip which has much more pronounced lateral lobes between which a large obovoid callus is present. Most of these resemble sect. Biloba in habit, while clearly belonging in sect. Grastidium.
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Dendrobium scorpionis
Dendrobium scorpionis Ormerod, drawing by Paul Ormerod in Malesian Orchid J. 13 (2014) 54, fig. 10, based on C.E. Carr 10356 (holo AMES).