Orchids of New Guinea

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Dendrobium kauldorumii

Dendrobium kauldorumii T.M.Reeve, Orchadian 6 (1980) 223 ('kauldorumi').

Type: Reeve 311 (holo LAE; iso AMES, BISH, BO, CBG, E, K, L, NSW, UPNG).

Small to medium-sized epiphytic herbs. Pseudobulbs clavate or fusiform, up to 20 by 1.3 cm, almost covered when young by papery sheaths, 2-3-leaved at the apex, orange-yellow when dry. Leaves coriaceous, spreading, elliptic, obtuse, up to 8 by 3 cm, purplish at base. Inflorescence erect, apical or from below lowest leaf, up to 20 cm long, laxly 3-9-flowered; bracts ovate, acute, 5 mm long. Flowers spreading to pendent. Dorsal sepal oblong-lanceolate, subacute, 1.7 by 0.5 cm, with lateral margins upturned; lateral sepals spreading, obliquely oblong-lanceolate, acute, 1.8 by 0.8 cm; mentum subconical, 0.7 cm long. Petals oblanceolate, subacute, 1.7 by 0.5 cm. Lip scarcely recurved, 3-lobed towards apex, 1.9-2.1 by 2 cm; side-lobes erect-incurved, oblong, rounded in front; midlobe longer than side lobes, ovate, acute, with incurved margins; callus fleshy, bilobed at apex, over half length of lip. Column short, 2.5 mm long, with blunt apical stelidia; column foot 6-7 mm long.
(after Cribb, 1983).

Colours:

Sepals and petals white; lip pale green with darker venation; mentum, callus, anther cap, column foot base and ovary green.

Habitat:

Epiphytic on Nothofagus in montane forest. Altitude 2000 m.

Distribution:

New Guinea.

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua New Guinea (Simbu & Eastern Highlands Provinces).

Map: Dendrobium kauldorumii T.M.Reeve, distribution map, redrawn from P. Cribb, Kew Bull. 38 (1983) 250, map 4.

Cultivation:

Cool growing epiphyte.

Flowering time in the wild:

September.

Classification:

Family Orchidaceae
Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Dendrobieae
Subtribe Dendrobiinae
Genus Dendrobium
Section Latouria
Species Dendrobium kauldorumii

Literature:

Cribb, P.J. 1983. Kew Bull. 38: 262, pl. 12E, map 4.

Notes:

The flowers of Dendrobium kauldorumii T.M.Reeve superficially resemble those of Dendrobium otaguroanum A.D.Hawkes, a much more widespread species. However, in Dendrobium kauldorumii the flowers are nodding, have narrower petals and the lip is distinctly 3-lobed. It also may be distinguished by its stouter purple pseudobulbs which bear elliptic, obtuse leaves and a many-flowered raceme.

Dendrobium kauldorumii T.M.Reeve was named in honour of Mr. Kaul Dorum of Laiagam (Enga Province, Papua New Guinea) who helped Tom Reeve collect the type material.
(after Cribb, 1983).