Orchids of New Guinea

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Dendrobium subquadratum

Dendrobium subquadratum J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19 (1908) 20; Nova Guinea 8, 1 (1909) 65, t. 23, fig. 73.

Type: Versteeg 1391 (holo BO).

Synonyms:

Dendrobium kingianum Bidwill ex Lindl. var. subquadratum (J.J.Sm.) Kraenzl., in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 50. II. B. 21 (1910) 274.
Sayeria subquadrata (J.J.Sm.) Rauschert, Feddes Repert. 94 (1983) 468.
Dendrobium sikinii Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 488 (

A pendent epiphytic herb. Pseudobulbs cylindrical, slightly dilated above, 6-30 by 0.3-0.5 cm, about 5-noded, yellow when dry, 2-leaved at apex. Leaves subcoriaceous, twisted at base to lie in one plane, narrowly elliptic or oblong-elliptic, acuminate, up to 17 by 2.5-3.7(-6.25) cm. Inflorescence erect or arcuate, up to 12 cm long, up to about 8-flowered; peduncle wiry, very slender; bracts ovate, acute, 3 mm long. Flowers rather fleshy; pedicel and ovary about 1.6 cm long. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, acuminate, 10-13 by 4-5 mm; lateral sepals obliquely ovate, acuminate, 11 by 8 mm; mentum conical, 6 mm long. Petals narrowly elliptic, acuminate, 9 by 2-2.5 mm. Lip long-clawed, recurved, 3-lobed above middle, 10-12 by 5-5.5 mm, side-lobes obliquely oblong, rounded in front; midlobe rugulose, conduplicate, longer than side-lobes, transversely oblong, truncate or apiculate; callus 3-ridged, running onto base of midlobe. Column 2.5 mm long, with an erose apical margin.
(after Cribb, 1983).

Colours:

Flowers white, apparently later becoming yellowish.

Habitat:

Epiphytic in hill forests. Altitude 300 to 800 m.

Distribution:

New Guinea.

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua (Jaya Wijaya Regency); Papua New Guinea (Sandaun Province).

Map: Dendrobium subquadratum J.J.Sm., distribution map, redrawn from P. Cribb, Kew Bull. 38 (1983) 285, map 6.

Cultivation:

Warm growing epiphyte.

Flowering time in the wild:

July.

Classification:

Family Orchidaceae
Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Dendrobieae
Subtribe Dendrobiinae
Genus Dendrobium
Section Latouria
Species Dendrobium subquadratum

Literature:

Cribb, P.J. 1983. Kew Bull. 38: 291, map 6.
Smith, J.J. 1911. Nova Guinea 8, 3: 553.
Smith, J.J. 1913. Nova Guinea 12, 1: 42.
Smith, J.J. 1929. Nova Guinea 14, 3: 417.

Notes:

Dendrobium subquadratum J.J.Sm. is most similar to Dendrobium euryanthum Schltr. but differs in its distinct flower colour, long-acuminate sepals and petals and narrower longer lip.
(after Cribb, 1983).