Orchids of New Guinea

Prev Taxon: Genus Dendrobium section Fugacia

Current Genus: Genus Dendrobium Section Grastidium

Next Taxon: Genus Dendrobium section Herpetophytum

Prev Species: Dendrobium vanderwateri

Jump:

Next Species: Dendrobium vernicosum

Dendrobium vandoides

Dendrobium vandoides Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 603; 21 (1928) t. 203, fig. 763.

Type: Schlechter 16694 (holo B, lost); para

Synonyms:

Grastidium vandoides (Schltr.) Brieger, in Schltr., Orchideen, ed. 3, I/A (1981) 653.

Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, erect, laterally flattened, 60-70 cm by 10-13 mm, densely many-leaved. Leaf sheaths 1-1.3 cm wide, entirely covering the stem. Leaves curved-patent, strap-shaped, 20-25 by 3-3.5 cm, apex unequally obtusely bilobulate. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem; peduncle 2 cm long, 2-flowered, spathe semiorbicular, laterally flattened, obtuse. Pedicel and ovary 2 cm long, glabrous. Flowers c. 3 cm across. Dorsal sepal elliptic-ligulate, 2 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely elliptic-ligulate, a little widened at the base, 2 cm long, apex obtuse; mentum short, obtuse. Petals obliquely elliptic, a little shorter than the sepals, apex obtuse. Lip 3-lobed in basal third, 1.3 by 0.5 cm, inside in basal half papillose, with a short basal keel, in upper half transversely rugulose; lateral lobes 0.3 cm long, subulate; midlobe oblong, margins regularly pectinate-ciliate. Column short, rather thick, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules very short, the median tooth-like, erect; column-foot with 5 (3 according to Schlechter's description, 5 according to his drawing) small cavities at the apex.
(after Schlechter, 1912).

Colours:

Flower pale yellowish, outside with reddish dots, spotted inside.

Habitat:

Epiphyte in lowland rainforest. Altitude 0-400 m.

Distribution:

New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago.

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua (Manokwari?, Yapen Waropen, and Jayapura Regencies); Papua New Guinea (Gulf, East Sepik, Madang, Morobe, Central and Milne Bay Provinces, also West New Britain).

Map: Dendrobium vandoides Schltr., distribution map.

Cultivation:

Warm growing epiphyte.

Flowering time in the wild:

Throughout the year.

Classification:

Family Orchidaceae
Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Dendrobieae
Subtribe Dendrobiinae
Genus Dendrobium
Section Grastidium
Species Dendrobium vandoides

Literature:

Lewis, B. & P.J. Cribb. 1991. Orchids of the Solomon Islands and Bougainville: 172.
O'Byrne, P. 1994. Lowland Orchids of Papua New Guinea: 354, fig., pl.
Smith, J.J. 1929. Nova Guinea 14, 3: 414, t. 63, fig. 66.

Notes:

Dendrobium vandoides Schltr. is a robust species, single stems of it may be mistaken for those of a Vanda, as the name indicates. However, the clustered stems with thin roots at the base, and of course the inflorescence and the flowers are totally unlike those of a Vanda .

Dendrobium vandoides

Dendrobium vandoides Schltr., inflorescence, photo Ed de Vogel, plant cultivated in goldmine headquarters, collected from the neigbourhood, Papua New Guinea, East New Britain Prov.

Dendrobium vandoides

Dendrobium vandoides Schltr., stem part with inflorescences, photo Ed de Vogel, plant cultivated in goldmine headquarters, collected from the neigbourhood, Papua New Guinea, East New Britain Prov.

Dendrobium vandoides

Dendrobium vandoides Schltr., flower, oblique front view, photo Ed de Vogel, plant cultivated in goldmine headquarters, collected from the neigbourhood, Papua New Guinea, East New Britain Prov.