Species Information - Mediocalcar paradoxum subsp. latifolium

Mediocalcar paradoxum (Kraenzl.) Schltr. subsp. latifolium (Schltr.) Schuit., Orchid Monogr. 8 (1997) 56, fig. 17, pl. 3a

Type:

Synonyms:

• Mediocalcar latifolium Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 228
  - Type: Hoogland 9290 (holo CANB; iso LAE)
• Mediocalcar conicum J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 3 (1912) 70
  - Type: Gjellerup 533 p.p. (holo BO; iso L)
• Mediocalcar ericiflorum Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58 (1922) 67
  - Type: Ledermann 12419 (holo B, lost)

Basionym: Mediocalcar latifolium

Roots 1 mm thick. Cataphylls 5-8, patent, flattened, subfalcate, glabrous, acute, keeled. Pseudobulbs erect to suberect, 1.5-5.5 cm apart, broadly conical to semiglobose, dorso-ventrally compressed, keeled, 0.7-1.5 cm long, 5-10 mm across at the base; base not or slightly elongated. Leaves petiolate, the blade (narrowly) elliptic to suborbicular, rarely narrowly obovate (index 1.3-5), (1.5-)2.5-8(-10) cm by (10-)15-33 mm, petiole 5-10 mm long; apex obtuse, more or less unequally bilobed, mucronate, with the mucro (much) longer than the lobules. Inflorescences almost always in pairs. Peduncle 2-3 cm long, at the apex with a triangular to subulate bract c. 3 mm long. Pedicel and ovary 12-22 mm long. Flowers vase-shaped to urceolate, more or less oblique, 10-15 mm long. Synsepalum 11-15.5 mm long and 16-19.5 mm wide when cut open and flattened; free tips only slightly spreading, obtuse to subacute, 3-6 mm long. Lateral sepals more or less keeled. Petals linear-lanceolate to narrowly elliptic (index 4-8), 7-12 by 1-1.7 mm; apex acute to acuminate. Lip 7-12 by 3-4 mm in natural position, the blade broadly ovate when flattened; claw 3.5-5 by 2-2.5 mm, auricles rather inconspicuous, reflexed; apex acute to acuminate, straight; margins erect, clasping the column; spur recurved, 2.5-4.5 mm long, 1.5-2.5 mm wide just below the mouth. Column clavate, 5-6.5 mm long, 2-2.5 mm wide at the apex, foot short, 1-1.5 mm long. Fruit narrowly cylindrical-ellipsoid, 20-34 by 3 mm. (After Schuiteman, 1997)

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