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Calanthe lutiviridis

Calanthe lutiviridis

Calanthe lutiviridis P.Royen, Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2 (1979) 148, fig. 61

Type: ANU (Wade) 7261 (holo CANB; iso L, LAE)

Terrestrial, up to 70 cm high. Rhizome short. Roots fleshy, pilose. Stem none. Leaves rosulate, blade erect-patent, herbaceous, glabrous, lanceolate, 77-37 by 1.5-2.8 cm, caudate, base subrotundate, many-nerved with 4-6-stronger developed nerves, all nerves prominent on either side, margin thin, scattered denticulate, sheath glabrous, 15-21 cm long, many-nerved. Inflorescence up to 75 cm long, many-flowered. Peduncle glabrous, 3-angular, up to 64 cm long, with 3 tubular, 3-4.5 cm long scales, the latter glabrous, obliquely truncate and acuminate, many-nerved. Rachis glabrous, 24 cm long. Floral bracts glabrous, linear-lanceolate, 0.5-2.5 by 0.7-0.15 cm, acuminate, clasping and subsaccate at base, 3-nerved. Pedicels glabrous, 0.3-0.7 cm long. Ovary glabrous, fusiform or clavate, slightly curved, 0.6-1.2 cm long, 6-grooved. Median sepal glabrous, elliptic, 0.9-1 by 0.3-0.4 cm obtuse, 3-nerved with a few transverse nerves in between, bullate-rugose on outside. Lateral sepals glabrous, elliptic, 0.9-1 by 0.4-0.45 cm, subulate-apiculate at tip, 5-nerved, scattered bullate-rugose on outside. Petals glabrous, obliquely spathulate-obovate, 0.8-0.9 by 0.3-0.35 cm, obtuse, 4-nerved, margin wavy. Lip glabrous, from a short oblong, slightly boat-shaped, 0.3-0.4 cm long basal part radiating out into 3 lobes; lateral lobes oblong, 0.35-0.4 by 0.1-0.15 cm, rounded, margin wavy, median lobe 0.8 cm long, 2-lobed, each lobe linear, 0.5 by 0.1 cm, rather obtuse, spreading, between these 2 lobes a short tooth-like acumen, at base of lip on inside with a 3-lobed callus, in the extension of the shorter median lobe a short crest with wavy margin and the apical half with 2 hollows. Spur clavate, 0.4.5-0.55 cm long, slightly compressed and 2-lobed at tip. Column short and straight, 0.3 by 0.3 cm, margin, wavy, with a short, sub triangular, obtuse auricles. Anther cucullate, 0.12 by 0.15 by 0.1 cm, rounded, base retuse, apical margin revolute. Capsule not seen. (After Van Royen, 1979).

Note: Probably not distinct from Calanthe arfakana J.J.Sm.


Flowers yellowish green.

Terrestrial in montane grassland.

Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Papua New Guinea.

Cool growing terrestrial, keep in light position.

Not known

  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Undetermined
  • Subtribe Collabiinae
  • Genus Calanthe
  • Section Calanthe
  • Species Calanthe lutiviridis

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Calanthe lutiviridis

Calanthe lutiviridis P.Royen, flower, front view, photo Jon Cara, from Papua New Guinea, Western Highlands Prov.

Calanthe lutiviridis

Calanthe lutiviridis P.Royen, flower, lateral view, photo Jon Cara, from Papua New Guinea, Western Highlands Prov.

Calanthe lutiviridis

Calanthe lutiviridis P.Royen, inflorescence, photo Jon Cara, from Papua New Guinea, Western Highlands Prov.

Calanthe lutiviridis

Calanthe lutiviridis P.Royen, drawing Pieter van Royen in Alp. Fl. New Guinea 2 (1979) 148, fig. 61, based on the type ANU 7261 (Wade)

Calanthe lutiviridis

Calanthe lutiviridis P.Royen, herbarium sheet, Wade ANU 7261, isotype specimen (L)