Species Information - Appendicula polystachya

Appendicula polystachya (Schltr.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 356

Type:

Synonyms:

• Podochilus polystachyus Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 121 'ius
  - Type: Schlechter 14664 (holo B, lost; iso K)
• Appendicula applicata J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19 (1908) 3
  - Type: Versteeg 1095 (holo BO)

Basionym: Podochilus polystachyus

Stems erect, terete, 50 cm long, laxely many-leaved. Leaves erect-patent, narrowly oblong-lanceolate, 7-10 by 1-1.5 cm, apex obtuse. Inflorescences terminal as well as lateral, paniculate, many-branched, somewhat longer than the leaves; peduncle short. Floral bracts patent-suberect, lanceolate, about as long as the ovary, apex acuminate. Flowers c. 0.5 cm long. Dorsal sepal ovate, 0.35 cm long, apex acuminate. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, 0.35 cm by 0.3 mm, apex acuminate; mentum obtuse. Petals obliquely oblong-ligulate, a little shorter than the sepals, apex obtuse. Lip cuneate-obovate, 0.4 cm long, base concave, just above the base with a horseshoe-shaped, concave appendage which does not reach the margins, and which towards the apex terminates into two oblique obtuse lobules, apex of lip rounded, obtusely apiculate. Column very short, rostellum short, shallowly emarginate; column-foot long. Anther rounded, apex shortly 3-cuspidate. Pollinia 6, caudicles one, concave, viscidium orbicular, minute.
(After Schlechter, 1905, as Podochilus polystachyus ['polystachius']).

Note: An easily recognised species because of the branching inflorescence.

---