Species Information - Dendrobium nummularia

Dendrobium nummularia Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 458; 21 (1923) t. 154, fig. 577.

Type: Schlechter 450 (holo B, lost); para

Synonyms:

• Microphytanthe nummularia (Schltr.) Brieger, in Schltr., Orchideen, ed. 3, I/A (1981) 742.
• Dendrobium prorepens Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 16 (1919) 114.
  - Type: Kempf s.n. (Kaiser Wilhelmsland, border between German- and English New Guinea) (holo B, lost).
• Microphytanthe prorepens (Schltr.) Rauschert, Feddes Repert. 94 (1983) 454.

Rhizome creeping, covered with scales that often soon dissolve into fibres. Pseudobulbs closely spaced, 1-leaved, oblongoid, compressed, largely adnate to the rhizome, 0.3-0.7 by 0.15-0.3 cm. Leaves ovate to elliptic, 0.4-0.8 by 0.25-0.45 cm, margins thickened, apex apiculate; when dry on both sides with reticulate veines. Inflorescences arising from the apex of the pseudobulb, 1-flowered, at the base covered in scales that soon dissolve into fibres. Floral bracts triangular, minute. Pedicel and ovary 0.4 cm long, glabrous. Flower resupinated, c. 1 cm across. Dorsal sepal ovate, 0.45 cm long, apex obtuse; glabrous. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, 0.45 cm long, apex obtuse; mentum oblongoid, obtuse, c. 5.5 mm long. Petals obliquely narrowly ligulate, c. 0.4 cm long, apex obtuse; glabrous. Lip narrowly cuneate-ligulate, 0.7 by 0.3 cm, apex bilobulate, the lobules quadrate-suborbicular, obtuse, minutely ciliate, with a short, broad, fleshy point in between. Column short, glabrous, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lobules obtuse, the laterals much broader than the median; column-foot c. 5.5 mm long. Anther rounded-cucullate, in front truncate, glabrous.
(after Schlechter, 1912).

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