Orchids of New Guinea

Prev Taxon: Genus Dendrobium

Current Genus: Genus Dendrobium

Next Taxon: Genus Dendrobium section Aporum subsection Aporum

Prev Species: Dendrobium polysema

Jump:

Next Species: Dendrobium potamophilum

Dendrobium poneroides

Dendrobium poneroides Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 10 (1911) 251; Beih. 21 (1928) t. 211, fig. 797.

Type: Schlechter 19252 (B, lost; iso E, BO, K, L 2x).Schlechter 16688 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BO, E, G, K, L 2x, MO, NSW).

Synonyms:

Dendrobium isochiloides Kraenzl. var. pumilum J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 8, 1 (1909) 77, pl. 26, 85.
- Type: Versteeg 1358 (holo BO, iso L).
Monanthus poneroides (Schltr.) Brieger, in Schltr., Orchideen, ed. 3, I/A (1981) 660.

Rhizome short. Stems crowded, very slender, compressed, to c. 11 cm long, many-leaved, internodes 0.4 cm long. Leaf sheaths tubular, longer than the internodes, longitudinally ribbed, the ribs transversely verrucose-rugulose, apex subtruncate. Leaves small, erect-patent, linear, 1.5-2.5 by 0.2-0.23 cm, apex deeply obtusely bilobed. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem, 1-flowered, very short. Floral bract minute. Pedicel 0.1 cm long; ovary 0.15 cm long, obconical, 6-grooved. Flower 0.86 cm long. Dorsal sepal ovate, 0.46 cm by 2.6 mm, convex, 3-nerved, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely triangular, 0.5 cm by 5 mm, apex acute; 3-nerved; mentum oblong-conical, 0.45 cm long, incurved, obtuse. Petals lanceolate, 0.46 cm by 1.3 mm, 1-nerved, apex obtuse. Lip 3-lobed in apical third, 0.73 by 0.35 cm, glabrous, with a thickened longitudinal band between the lateral lobes, at the base with a small callus; lateral lobes erect, short, broadly obtuse, thickened in front; midlobe constricted at the base, subovate-orbicular, 0.26 by 0.33 cm, strongly carnose except at base, convex, concave in the centre. Column 0.15 cm long, clinandrium denticulate; column-foot at an acute angle to the ovary, linear, 0.46 cm long, curved, truncate. Anther cucullate, dorsally retuse, apex broadly truncate. Pollinia oblong, the interior ones thinner.
(after Smith, 1909 - as Dendrobium isochiloides var. pumilum).

INFRASPECIFIC TAXA

Dendrobium poneroides Schltr. var. angustum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 629.

Differs from the typical variety in having leaves 3 to 4 times as long and in the slightly broader petals.

Colours:

Sepals and petals yellowish green, lip brown-red with greenish tip.
Sepals and petals yellowish, lip brown with yellowish midlobe.

Habitat:

Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude 75 to 900 m.
Epiphyte on riverine trees. Altitude 400 m.

Distribution:

New Guinea (endemic).
New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua (Nabire, Puncak Jaya, Jayapura, and Merauke Regencies); Papua New Guinea (Morobe Province).
Papua New Guinea (Madang Province

Cultivation:

Warm growing epiphyte.
Warm growing epiphyte.

Flowering time in the wild:

Throughout the year.
October.

Literature:

Schlechter, R. 1912. Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1: 628.
Smith, J.J. 1916. Nova Guinea 12, 4: 302.

Notes:

Differs from Dendrobium isochiloides in the much shorter stems and the shorter and narrower leaves.