Species Information - Oberonia serpentinicaulis

Oberonia serpentinicaulis J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 14 (1929) 364, pl. 49, fig. 23

Type: Feuilletau de Bruyn 90 (holo L; iso AMES, BO, K)

Synonyms:

Rhizome creeping, branched, thin, with long internodes, only rooting at the base of the stems, rhizome scales tubular, acute, especially the upper ones provided with a small leaf-blade. Stems 1.1-1.5 cm apart, elongated, ribbon-like, c. 5-7-leaved, without inflorescence 2-5 cm long. Leaves equitant, erect-patent, frequently more or less falcate-slightly incurved, linear, acute, frequently subulate-acuminate, in the basal part adaxially split and with membranous margins; sheaths short, tubular, in front membranous, the basal ones very short, the ones in the middle 3.75-7 cm long, the tubular part 2.25-4.75 by 0.25-0.35 cm. Inflorescence many-flowered, peduncle 1 cm long, with a small subappressed, subulate, 0.2-0.5 cm long scale with membranous margins; rachis narrowly winged-angular, glabrous, 3.5-5.5 cm long. Floral bracts appressed, oblong-triangular, subacuminate, concave, erose, 0.1 by 0.05 cm. Flowers seemingly arranged in c. 7-flowered whorls or more or less spirally arranged, very small, widely patent, 0.13 cm wide. Median sepal triangular, at the apex recurved, subacute, concave, slightly more than 0.05 cm long, 0.04 cm wide. Lateral sepals in apical half strongly recurved, strongly convex, subobliquely triangular, subacute, 0.08 cm long, almost 0.05 cm wide. Petals widely patent, making a broadly obtuse angle, somewhat obliquely narrowly triangular, 0.06 by 0.03 cm. Lip 3-lobed, at the base concave, when flattened in outline subquadrangular, slightly more than 0.08 cm long, across the lateral lobes and the mid-lobe 0.06 cm wide; lateral lobes clasping the column, small, about oblong-quadrangular, obtuse; mid-lobe conspicuous, broad, in outline at the base broadly subcuneate 6-angular, at the apex broadly obtusely bilobulate with somewhat irregular margins, 0.05 cm long. Column very short. Anther cucullate, transversely elliptic. Ovary 0.08 cm long. (After Smith, 1929)

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