Current Genus: Genus Dendrobium section Calyptrochilus
Next Taxon: Genus Dendrobium section Conostalix
Dendrobium andreemillariae T.M.Reeve, Orchadian 7 (1982) 130, fig. 1. ('andreemillarae')
Type: NGF (Millar) 37783 (holo LAE).
Synonyms:
An epiphytic herb up to 20 cm high. Roots very thick, glabrous, up to 4.5 mm diameter. Rhizomes very short. Stems 0.3-1.8 cm apart, slender, cylindrical, 3-20 by 0.15-0.3 cm, branching or not. Leaves narrowly elliptic to broadly ovate, 2-6 by 0.8-2.5 cm, fleshy, acute. Inflorescences arising from both leafy and leafless stems, 1- to 4-flowered, peduncle and rachis short; bracts orbicular, 5-7 by 5-7 mm, apiculate, concave. Ovary with pedicel 1.7-2.3 cm long, ovary 6-grooved. Flowers large, waxy and fleshy, glabrous, widely opening, 2.6-3.1 cm long. Dorsal sepal oblong-ovate, 1.3-1.5 cm by 6-7 mm, subacute; lateral sepals 2.1-2.4 by 8 mm, fused at front of mentum for c. 3 mm; mentum apex obtuse to slightly bilobed, in side view mentum shortly tapered near the apex. Petals obovate, 1.4-1.7 cm by 7-8 mm, obtuse. Lip boat-shaped (with flat bottom), slightly incurved, 2.5-2.8 cm by 4-5 mm (expanded width 13-15 mm), with prominent U-shaped transverse ridge c. 6 mm from the base, apex extending 7-8 mm above top of the column (and also longer than the lateral sepals). Column typical of the section, c. 4.5 by 4 mm; column foot 11-12 mm long; anther cucullate, emarginate, c. 3 by 3 mm.
(after Reeve, 1982).
Roots white with orange tips. Stems green to greenish-yellow, blackish at the nodes. Leaves mid green. Flower bright purple to purplish pink; lip orange to orange-red, margins white, apex tinged purplish (always?); apical and dorsal part of mentum white.
Epiphyte on Nothofagus in moss forest, growing in moss clumps. Altitude 2300 to 3000 m.
New Guinea (endemic).
Cool growing epiphyte, requires light shade. Judging from its habitat it should never be allowed to dry out.
July, August.
In colour and shape the flowers of Dendrobium andreemillarae are rather similar to those of Dendrobium laevifolium, but the latter has distinct swollen pseudobulbs, much thinner roots, and a mentum which in side view is tapered all the way from base to apex.
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