Orchids of New Guinea

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Dendrobium versteegii

Dendrobium versteegii J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 8 (1912) 17

Synonyms:

Dendrobium collinum (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 8 (1912) 18 (non J.J.Sm. 1910).
Cadetia collina Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 432; 21 (1923) t. 150
Dendrobium obliquum (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 8 (1912) 17 (non Schltr.).
Cadetia obliqua Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 431; 21 (1923) t. 149, fig. 559.
- Type: Schlechter 19970 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, G, L, NSW, S).
Dendrobium toadjanum J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12 (1913) 30; Nova Guinea 12, 3 (1916) 282, t. 103, fig. 179.
- Type: Gjellerup 104 (syn K, L); 783 (syn BO); 995 (syn BO, L).
Cadetia toadjana (J.J.Sm.) Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58 (1922) 91.
Cadetia quadriquetra Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58 (1922) 94.
- Type: Ledermann 8025 (holo B, lost; iso K).
Cadetia quinquecostata (J.J.Sm.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 424
Cadetia sepikana Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58 (1922) 95.
- Type: Ledermann 8138 (holo B, lost; iso BM, K).
Dendrobium maluense J.J.Sm., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 66 (1934) 187 (nom. nov.).
Dendrobium bariense J.J.Sm., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 66 (1934) 187 (nom. nov.).

Rhizome short. Stems crowded, erect, slender, slightly thickened in upper part, sharply 4-angular, 7-12 cm by 3.5-4 mm, 1-leaved. Leaves erect to suberect, obliquely oblong, 6-8 by 1.8-2.5 cm, coriaceous, base rounded, apex obtuse, minutely bilobulate. Inflorescences terminal from the leaf axil, several in succession, 1-flowered, spathe elliptic, 1 cm long. Pedicel and ovary 1.3 cm long, sharply 3-ribbed, with two additional obtuse lateral ribs, glabrous. Flower resupinated, c. 1.2 cm across. Dorsal sepal elliptic, 0.65 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely elliptic, apex obtuse; mentum spur-like, cylindrical, 0.4 cm long, obtuse. Petals obliquely linear-spathulate, 0.65 cm long, apex obtuse. Lip 3-lobed in basal third of the blade, clawed, 0.4 by 0.4 cm, claw linear, adnate to the column-foot, 0.4 cm long at the base; lateral lobes obliquely elliptic to suborbicular, broadly obtuse; midlobe 3 to 4 times as large, broadly obovate, at the base with two small, rounded, pubescent callosities, with 3 broad rounded keels extending from base to apex, laterally with two additional shorter keels, apex emarginate. Column short, in front minutely pubescent, stelidia obtuse, filament tooth-like, shorter.
(after Schlechter, 1912).

Colours:

Flower white, lip with rose lateral lobes and rose margins to the midlobe.

Habitat:

Epiphyte in lowland rainforest and hill forest. Altitude 0 to 700 m.

Distribution:

New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago.

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua (Sorong, Biak Numfor, Yapen-Waropen, Jaya Wijaya, and Jayapura Regencies); Papua New Guinea (Western, Sandaun, East Sepik, ?Western Highlands, Morobe, and Central Provinces, according to O'Byrne also in East New Britain).

Map: Cadetia collina Schltr., distribution map.

Cultivation:

Warm growing epiphyte. Should be kept in light shade and be well-watered throughout the year, at the same time providing for excellent drainage.

Flowering time in the wild:

Throughout the year.

Literature:

Smith, J.J. 1911. Nova Guinea 8, 3: 547.
Smith, J.J. 1935. Nova Guinea 18, 1: 38.
Smith, J.J. 1935. Nova Guinea 18, 1: 38.
O'Byrne, P. 1994. Lowland Orchids of Papua New Guinea: 160, fig. (as Cadetia aff. collina).

Notes:

Cadetia collina is a common and widespread lowland species. It may be recognised by the broad, slightly oblique and weakly falcate leaves, the 3-lobed lip, with broad lateral lobes and a broadly obovate, emarginate midlobe. It is closely related to Cadetia angustifolia, Cadetia doormanii and in particular to Cadetia quinquecostata and Cadetia stenocentrum, with which it should be compared.