Mediocalcar subteres Schuit., Blumea 34 (1989) 171, fig. 2
Type: NGF (Kairo) 44083 (holo LAE; iso AMES, BO, K, L, SING)
Synonyms:
Roots densely covered with very short root hairs, 0.5 mm thick. Rhizome creeping, sparsely to rather frequently branching, 2 mm thick. Cataphylls 5, closely appressed, tubular, glabrous, subacute, keeled near the tips. Pseudobulbs approximate, terete, (8-)15-25(-35) mm long, 2.5-3.5 mm across, largely enveloping the rhizome, free top ascending, 3-7 mm long. Leaves one, occasionally two per pseudobulb, sessile, subterete, straight, channelled above, (1.5-)3-5(-7) cm by 2-3 mm; margins entire; apex acute, mucronate. Inflorescences solitary, synanthous, at the base with a narrow scale c. 3 mm long. Peduncle 5-15 mm long, at the apex with a triangular, acute bract 1 mm long. Pedicel and ovary 7-10 mm long. Flowers urceolate, oblique, laterally flattened, 8-9 mm long. Synsepalum 8-9 mm long and 11-16 mm wide when cut open and flattened; free tips hardly spreading, 3-3.5 mm long, acute. Petals oblanceolate (index 5.5-6.5), 5.5-6.5 by c. 1 mm; apex acute; 1- or 3-nerved. Lip 6.5-7 mm long, c. 3 mm wide in natural position, the blade broadly ovate when flattened; claw 2 by 1.5 mm, auricles rather conspicuous, reflexed; apex acute; margins erect, clasping the column; spur broadly cylindrical, c. 2.5 mm long, c. 2 mm wide just below the mouth. Column clavate, 3-4 mm long, c. 2 mm wide at the apex, foot very short. Fruit not seen. (After Schuiteman, 1997)
Flowers bright yellow or orange-yellow, sometimes red at the base. Ovary bright greenish yellow. Leaves dull green, pseudobulbs yellow-green.
Epiphyte in montane forest; 1200-1850 m.
Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Cool growing epiphyte, requires light position.
March, July, August, September.
An unmistakable species because of its subterete leaves. The yellow flowers are exceptional in the genus, in other species these are reported only as very rare colour morphs.
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