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Mediocalcar bulbophylloides

Mediocalcar bulbophylloides

Mediocalcar bulbophylloides J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 11 (1913) 560

Type: Gjellerup 1110 (holo BO)

Roots apparently glabrous (always?), 0.5 mm thick. Rhizome creeping, sparsely branching, 2 mm thick. Cataphylls of the young shoot 3-4, closely appressed, subacute to acute, glabrous, keeled near the tip. Pseudobulbs suberect to erect, approximate, obliquely conical, 0.6-1 cm long, 3-4 mm across at the base, with the base clasping the rhizome like a saddle. Leaves one per pseudobulb, (sub)petiolate, elliptic (index 2-3), blade 1.8-2.8 cm long, 8-10 mm wide, petiole channelled, 2-3 mm long; glabrous; margin entire; apex obtuse, more or less unequally bilobulate, mucronate, with the mucro slightly longer than the lobules; carnose. Inflorescences solitary or in pairs, synanthous, at the base with an inconspicuous scale 0.5 mm long. Peduncle 15 mm long, at the apex with a triangular bract 1 mm long. Pedicel and ovary 10 mm long. Flowers vase-shaped, slightly oblique, 9.5 mm long. Synsepalum 9 mm long and 8 mm wide when cut open and flattened; free tips only slightly spreading, 3.8-4 mm long, obtuse. Petals linear-subspathulate (index 7.7), 7.7 by 1 mm; apex acute; 2-nerved. Lip 7.3 by 2.5 mm in natural position, the blade broadly ovate when flattened; claw 4.3 by 2 mm, auricles inconspicuous; apex acute, porrect; margins erect, clasping the column; spur shallowly saccate 1 mm deep. Column clavate, 4.5 mm long, foot conspicuous, 1.6 mm long. Fruit (immature) cylindrical, 20 mm long, 1.5 mm across. (After Schuiteman, 1997)


Flowers red or pink, apparently without contrasting apices.

Epiphyte in montane forest; 1800-1900 m.

Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Papua (Indonesia). See map

distribution in New Guinea

Cool growing epiphyte.

April, October.

  • Smith, J.J., Nova Guinea 12, 3 (1915) 259, t. 93, fig. 159
  • Schuiteman, A., Orchid Monogr. 8 (1997) 47, fig. 11
  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Podochileae
  • Subtribe Eriinae
  • Genus Mediocalcar
  • Species Mediocalcar bulbophylloides

A distinctive small species, apparently endemic to the Arfak Mountains.


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Mediocalcar bulbophylloides

Mediocalcar bulbophylloides J.J.Sm., drawing A. Schuiteman in Orchid Monogr. 8 (1997) fig. 11, plant habit only

Mediocalcar bulbophylloides

Mediocalcar bulbophylloides J.J.Sm., drawing A. Schuiteman in Orchid Monogr. 8 (1997) fig. 11

Mediocalcar bulbophylloides

Mediocalcar bulbophylloides J.J.Sm., lip, drawing J.J. Smith, based on Gjellerup 1110

Mediocalcar bulbophylloides

Mediocalcar bulbophylloides J.J.Sm., floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, based on Gjellerup 1110

Mediocalcar bulbophylloides

Mediocalcar bulbophylloides J.J.Sm., herbarium sheet, Gjellerup 1110 (holotype specimen BO)

Mediocalcar bulbophylloides

Mediocalcar bulbophylloides J.J.Sm., flower, front view, photo Ed de Vogel, from Papua New Guinea, Morobe Prov., Huon Peninsula, Leiden cult. 20110766

Mediocalcar bulbophylloides

Mediocalcar bulbophylloides J.J.Sm., flower, oblique front view, photo Ed de Vogel, from Papua New Guinea, Morobe Prov., Huon Peninsula, Leiden cult. 20110766

Mediocalcar bulbophylloides

Mediocalcar bulbophylloides J.J.Sm., flower, oblique lateral view, photo Ed de Vogel, from Papua New Guinea, Morobe Prov., Huon Peninsula, Leiden cult. 20110766