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Crepidium decumbens

Crepidium decumbens

Crepidium decumbens (Schltr.) Szlach., Fragm. Florist. Geobot. Suppl. 3 (1995) 126

Type: Type: Schlechter 17371 (holo B, lost; iso BO, K)

Synonyms:

  • Microstylis decumbens Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 137
  • Crepidium decumbens (Schltr.) Szlach., Fragm. Florist. Geobot. Suppl. 3 (1995) 126
  • Malaxis decumbens (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 79

Decumbent, branching from the base, up to 29 cm high. Rhizome elongated, stem-like; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Stem elongated, densely leafy, terete. glabrous, ascending at the apex. Leaves erect-patent, petiolate; blade obliquely elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, 4-6 cm long, at or below the middle 1.5 to 2.5 cm wide, margins usually slightly undulate; petiole dilated at the base, sheathing, 1-1.5 cm long. Inflorescence slender, erect, straight or nearly so, angular, with 1-2 small, distant, bract-like scales, glabrous; rachis rather laxly many-flowered, elongated, up to 13 cm long, c. 1 cm diam. across the flowers. Floral bracts deflexed, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, almost as long as the ovary. Flowers patent, glabrous. Sepals oblong, obtuse, 0.2 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely linear-ligulate, obtuse, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip sagittate-auriculate; blade near the middle 3-lobed, 0.15 cm long, at the base 0.2 cm wide; lateral lobes split into four falcate-subulate, acute teeth, the outer tooth half as long as the others; mid-lobe semiorbicular, very small, at the apex shortly notched, not surpassing the teeth of the lateral lobes; basal pit oblong, decurrent towards the middle of the lip, margins horseshoe-shaped-thickened; auricles obliquely triangular, subparallel, subobtuse, 0.1 cm long. Column short, thickened, at the apex somewhat dilated. Anther reniform-cucullate, obtuse. Ovary and pedicel glabrous, cylindrical, 6-ribbed, 0.3-0.4 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)


Flowers yellow or light wine-red. In plants with wine-red flowers the stems and the main veins on the underside of the leaves are also wine-red.

Terrestrial in lowland forest; 150 m.

Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands.

Papua New Guinea. See map

distribution in New Guinea

Warm growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.

March.

  • Schlechter, R., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1923) t. 53, fig. 186, as Microstylis decumbens Schltr.
  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Malaxideae
  • Section Crepidium
  • Genus Malaxis
  • Section Crepidium
  • Species Crepidium decumbens

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Crepidium decumbens

overview picture

Crepidium decumbens

Crepidium decumbens , drawing N.H.S. Howcroft 301

Crepidium decumbens

Crepidium decumbens (Schltr.) Szlach. (as Microstylis decumbens Schltr.), drawing R. Schlechter in Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1923) t. 53, fig. 186

Crepidium decumbens

Microstylis decumbens Schltr.), herbarium sheet, Schlechter 17371 (isotype specimen K), photo copyright the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Crepidium decumbens

Crepidium decumbens (Schltr.) Szlach. (as Microstylis decumbens Schltr.), detail of herbarium sheet, Schlechter 17371 (isotype specimen K), photo copyright the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Crepidium decumbens

Crepidium decumbens (Schltr.) Szlach. (as Microstylis decumbens Schltr.), herbarium sheet, Schlechter 17371 (isotype specimen BO)

Crepidium decumbens

Crepidium decumbens (Schltr.) Szlach. (as Microstylis decumbens Schltr.), herbarium sheet, Schlechter 17371 (isotype specimen BO)