Orchids of New Guinea

Dendrobium echinocarpum

Dendrobium echinocarpum (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 8 (1912) 18

Type: Schlechter 17909 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, E, G, K, L, NSW).

Synonyms:

Cadetia echinocarpa Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 439; 21 (1923) t. 152

Rhizome very short. Stems crowded, slender, 2-7 cm by 1.5 mm, 1-leaved. Leaves ligulate, 3.5-5 by 0.6-1 cm, apex obtuse, shortly bidentate. Inflorescences terminal from the leaf axil, 1-flowered, spathe 0.5 cm long. Pedicel and ovary 1.5 cm long, densely covered with papillae and recurved pointed appendages. Flower c. 0.8 cm across. Dorsal sepal broadly elliptic, 0.45 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely subquadrate; mentum oblongoid-cylindrical, 0.2 cm long, obtuse. Petals narrowly linear, 0.6 cm long, apex narrowly obtuse. Lip 3-lobed, sparsely pubescent inside except at the base; lateral lobes small, triangular, glabrous, acute; midlobe sharply reflexed, very broadly reniform-cordate, appearing almost forked, 0.4 cm wide, obtuse. Column short, in front minutely pubescent, stelidia acute, bifid, filament minute, tooth-like.
(after Schlechter, 1912).

Colours:

Flower white, midlobe of lip yellow, apex of column red.

Habitat:

Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude 50 m.

Distribution:

New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua New Guinea (Madang Province).

Map: Dendrobium echinocarpum (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., distribution map.

Cultivation:

Warm growing epiphyte.

Flowering time in the wild:

July.

Notes:

Dendrobium echinocarpum is closely related to Cadetia umbellata, but may be distinguished by the pubescent midlobe of the lip.