Species Information - Dendrobium neoguineense

Dendrobium neoguineense A.D.Hawkes & A.H.Heller, Lloydia 20 (1957) 122 (nom. nov.).

Type:

Synonyms:

• Dendrobium longicaule Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58 (1923) 115.
  - Type: Ledermann 12363 (holo B, lost).
• Grastidium neoguineense (A.D.Hawkes & A.H.Heller) Rauschert, Feddes Repert. 94 (1983) 451 as 'neo-guineense'.

Basionym: Dendrobium longicaule Schltr.

Rhizome very short. Stems crowded, patent, terete, unbranched, 100-150 cm by 6-7 mm, densely many-leaved. Leaf sheaths entirely covering the stem, finally becoming transversely rugulose. Leaves erect-patent to subpatent, linear-ligulate, 6-8 by 1-1.4 cm, apex unequally obtusely bilobulate, coriaceous. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem, subsessile, 2-flowered; spathe short, laterally compressed. Floral bracts deltoid, much shorter than the ovary. Ovary 0.9 cm long, subsessile, obconical-cylindrical. Flowers c. 5 cm across. Sepals keeled outside. Dorsal sepal oblong, 2.7 cm long, apiculate. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong, widened at the base, 2.7 cm long, apiculate; mentum 0.4 cm long, obtuse. Petals obliquely elliptic, somewhat narrowed to the base, a little wider than the sepals, 2.6 cm long, apex obtuse. Lip 3-lobed in apical third, 1.2 by 1 cm, inside sparsely covered with hair-like appendages, with a high basal keel extending to the middle; lateral lobes short, rounded; midlobe semiquadrangular, apiculate. Column rather thick, 0.4 cm long, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules semiorbicular, the median about as long, subulate; column-foot 0.4 cm long.
(after Schlechter, 1923).

---