Species Information - Dendrobium purpureiflorum

Dendrobium purpureiflorum J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12 (1913) 118; Nova Guinea 12, 3 (1916) 339, t. 122, fig. 224.

Type: Gjellerup 520 (holo BO, iso L).

Synonyms:

• Pedilonum purpureiflorum (J.J.Sm.) Rauschert, Feddes Repert. 94 (1983) 462.
• Chromatotriccum purpureiflorum (J.J.Sm.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones, Orchadian 13 (2002) 495

Stems elongated, much branched, terete, in upper part flexuose, 70 cm by 3 mm, internodes c. 3.5 cm long, shorter in upper part, branches very slender, flexuose. Leaf sheaths with verruculose ribs. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 1.1-4.3 by 0.18-0.63 cm, thin papyraceous, margins at apex minutely denticulate, apex acute, mucronate. Inflorescences lateral, racemose, very short; rachis 0.4-0.7 cm long, 1-5-flowered. Floral bracts ovate-triangular, 0.5-0.6 cm long, apex acuminate. Pedicel and ovary 1.6 cm long, clavate. Flowers 2.1 cm long. Dorsal sepal 0.83 cm by 5 mm. Lateral sepals mentum conical, 1.35 cm long, obtuse. Petals 0.84 cm by 3 mm. Lip clawed, spathulate, when flattened 1.65 by 0.8 cm, base claw for 1 cm adnate to the column-foot, apex cucullate, plicate, apical margin densely serrate. Column 0.3 cm long; column-foot 1.3 cm long.
(after Smith, 1916).

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