Orchids of New Guinea

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Dendrobium erectopatens

Dendrobium erectopatens J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 2 (1911) 10; Nova Guinea 12, 1 (1913) 52, t. 15, fig. 41.

Type: Gjellerup s.n. (North Coast New Guinea) (holo BO; ?430, Hollandia, ?iso L).

Synonyms:

Grastidium erectopatens (J.J.Sm.) Rauschert, Feddes Repert. 94 (1983) 449.

Stems elongated, slender, in cross-section elliptic, more than 25 cm by 1.75 mm, internodes 0.85-0.9 cm long. Leaf sheaths 0.23 cm wide. Leaves erect-patent, twisted at the base so as to lie in one plane, lanceolate, 3-4 by 0.75-0.95 cm, apex strongly unequally bidentate. Inflorescences lateral from the stem, 2-flowered. Pedicel and ovary 1.25 cm long. Flowers c. 2 cm across. Dorsal sepal 1.2 cm by 5.5 mm; mentum 0.65 cm long, broadly rounded. Petals 1.15 cm by 4.5 mm. Lip weakly 3-lobed, when flattened 1 by 0.44 cm across the lateral lobes, with a simple basal keel; midlobe 0.48 by 0.57 cm. Column 0.45 cm long; column-foot 0.6 cm long.
(after Smith, 1913).

Colours:

Flower yellowish white, lip at the base light violet, or flowers pale waxy yellow, lip deeper yellow, the keel bright yellow; anther yellow.

Habitat:

Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude 20 to 900 m.

Distribution:

New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua (Puncak Jaya and Jayapura Regencies); Papua New Guinea (East Sepik Province).

Map: Dendrobium erectopatens J.J.Sm., distribution map.

Cultivation:

Warm growing epiphyte.

Flowering time in the wild:

March, July-November.

Classification:

Family Orchidaceae
Subfamily Epidendroideae
Family Orchidaceae
Subtribe Dendrobiinae
Genus Dendrobium
Section Grastidium
Species Dendrobium erectopatens

Literature:

Smith, J.J. 1935. Nova Guinea 18, 1: 46.

Notes:

Dendrobium erectopatens J.J.Sm. is in the shape of the flowers quite similar to Dendrobium igneum J.J.Sm., but in the colour, and especially in habit the two species are clearly distinct.