Orchids of New Guinea

Prev Taxon: Genus Dendrobium section Herpetophytum

Current Genus: Genus Dendrobium section Latouria

Next Taxon: Genus Dendrobium section Microphytanthe

Jump:

Dendrobium punamense

Dendrobium punamense Schltr., in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 163; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1923) t. 164, fig. 614.

Type: Schlechter 14690 (holo B, lost).

Synonyms:

Sayeria punamensis (Schltr.) Rauschert, Feddes Repert. 94 (1983) 468.
Dendrobium waterhousei Carr, Kew Bull. (1934) 379.
- Type: Waterhouse 333 (holo K); para: Waterhouse 590 (K).

An erect or pendulous epiphytic or lithophytic herb. Pseudobulbs clustered, cylindrical, scarcely dilated above, 3-6-noded below leaves, 15-30 by 0.4-0.7 cm, green or olive-green, drying yellow, 2-leaved at apex. Leaves subcoriaceous, twisted at base to lie in one plane, oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate, acuminate, 15-30 by 3-4.3 cm. Inflorescences (2-)5-13 cm long, subterminal, few-flowered; bracts ovate to lanceolate, acuminate or acute, 4-7 mm long. Flowers fleshy; pedicel and ovary about 1 cm long. Dorsal sepal ovate, acuminate, 10-13 by 5.5-6 mm; lateral sepals falcate, obliquely broadly triangular, acuminate, up to 14 by 15 mm; mentum large, incurved-conical, 1-1.4 cm long. Petals elliptic, acuminate, 10-13 by 4 mm. Lip 3-lobed towards apex, narrowly clawed below, 13-15 by 14-16 mm when spread; side-lobes as long as midlobe , narrowly oblong, rounded at apex; midlobe transversely oblong, apiculate; callus elongate, fleshy, 3-ridged. Column 3 mm long; foot incurved, up to 14 mm long.
(after Cribb, 1983).

Colours:

Flowers white to pale green.

Habitat:

Epiphyte in rainforest, growing on tree trunks and large branches in deep shade. Altitude 25 to 500 m.

Distribution:

New Guinea, Bougainville.

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua New Guinea (Manus Island, East and West New Britain and New Ireland Prov.).

Map: Dendrobium punamense Schltr., distribution map, redrawn from P. Cribb, Kew Bull. 38 (1983) 250, map 4.

Cultivation:

Warm to intermediate growing epiphyte, prefers shaded position.

Flowering time in the wild:

May, July.

Literature:

Cribb, P.J. 1983. Kew Bull. 38: 290, pl. 17C, map 4.
Lewis, B. & P.J. Cribb. 1991. Orchids of the Solomon Islands and Bougainville: 179.
Schlechter, R. 1912. Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1: 487.

Notes:

Dendrobium punamense Schltr. is most closely allied to Dendrobium euryanthum Schltrt., sterile specimens of the two being indistinguishable. However, it differs in flower colour and in lip shape, the side-lobes being as long as the midlobe.
(after Cribb, 1983).