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Thrixspermum warianum

Thrixspermum warianum

Thrixspermum warianum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 961

Type: Schlechter 19498 (holo B, lost)

Epiphytic, to 15 cm long; roots flexuose, glabrous. Stem rather thick, somewhat flattened, to 13 cm long, densely leafy, entirely covered with the striate leaf-sheaths. Leaves subpatent, oblong-ligulate, unequally and obtusely bilobulate, 7-10 cm long, near the middle 1.9-3 cm wide. Inflorescence laterally flattened, saw-like, only slightly pedunculate, to 8 cm long. Floral bracts conduplicate, falcate-ovate, obtuse, half as long as the ovary. Flowers showy, erect-patent, glabrous. Sepals narrowly lanceolate, acute, 1.7 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely linear-ligulate, acute, as long as the sepals. Lip at the base semi-square-saccate, retuse, above the base semiorbicular, 3-lobed at the apex, 1.2 cm long, 0.8 cm wide near the middle; lateral lobes obliquely ovate-triangular, apiculate; mid-lobe twice as long, semioblong, at the swollen apex somewhat incurved; in the basal half of the lip with a square bilobulate appendage; in the base of the sac with a semiglobose, papillose callus. Column short, foot at the apex hollowed out. Anther cucullate, apex minutely bidentate; pollinia obliquely and narrowly oblongoid; stipe much shorter than the pollinia, ovate-triangular; viscidium minute, transverse. Ovary slender, glabrous, c. 1.2 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)


Flowers yellowish; lip with a broad, transverse, red band, basal callus red.

Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 900 m.

Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands.

Papua New Guinea. See map

distribution map

Intermediate growing epiphyte.

May, June.

  • Schlechter, R., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1928) t. 339, fig. 1307
  • O'Byrne, P., Lowland Orchid. Papua New Guinea (1994) 550, fig., pl.
  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Vandeae
  • Subtribe Aeridinae
  • Genus Thrixspermum
  • Section Thrixspermum
  • Species Thrixspermum warianum

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Thrixspermum warianum

Thrixspermum warianum Schltr., habit (in situ at Lake Kutubu, PNG), photo A. Schuiteman

Thrixspermum warianum

Thrixspermum warianum Schltr., in situ, photo T. Roelfsema

Thrixspermum warianum

Thrixspermum warianum Schltr., habit (in situ at Lake Kutubu, PNG), photo A. Schuiteman

Thrixspermum warianum

Thrixspermum warianum Schltr., habit and floral analysis, drawing N.H.S. Howcroft 238

Thrixspermum warianum

Thrixspermum warianum Schltr., drawing R. Schlechter in Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1928) t. 339, fig. 1307