Orchids of New Guinea

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Dendrobium isthmiferum

Dendrobium isthmiferum J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 18 (1935) 41, pl. 8, 23.

Type: Docters van Leeuwen 10017 (holo L).

Synonyms:

Diplocaulobium isthmiferum (J.J.Sm.) P.F.Hunt & Summerh., Taxon 10 (1961) 109.

Rhizome short. Pseudobulbs crowded, 1-leaved, stem-like, slightly thickened towards the base, 19-32 cm long, at the apex 0.7-0.8 cm wide. Leaves oblong, 6.75-10 by 2.4 cm, coriaceous, apex obtuse, obtusely bilobulate. Inflorescences 1-flowered, spathe narrowly triangular, 1-1.5 cm long; peduncle 0.6-1.4 cm long. Pedicel 2.2 cm long; ovary 0.4 cm long. Flower c. 5 cm across. Dorsal sepal 3.2 cm by 5 mm. Lateral sepals 3.3 cm by 8.5 mm; mentum 0.65 cm long, obtuse. Petals 2.7 cm by 2.4 mm. Lip 3-lobed, 1.35 by 1.1 cm, with two keels, disc papillose between the undulating part of the keels; midlobe 0.8 by 1.1 cm. Column 0.37 cm long; column-foot 0.6 cm long.
(after Smith, 1935).

Colours:

Sepals and petals light yellow, darker yellow towards the tips, lip bordered white, centre yellow, with red streaks, base red.

Habitat:

Epiphyte in hill forest. Altitude 150 m.

Distribution:

New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua (Nabire Regency)

Cultivation:

Warm growing epiphyte.

Flowering time in the wild:

August.

Classification:

Family Orchidaceae
Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Dendrobieae
Subtribe Dendrobiinae
Genus Dendrobium
Section Diplocaulobium
Subsection Mekynosepalum
Species Dendrobium isthmiferum

Notes:

Dendrobium isthmiferum J.J.Sm. is similar to Dendrobium moiorum Saputra, Schuit., Wanma & Naive in the papillose patch on the midlobe of the lip, but differs in the shorter leaves (6.75-10 versus 13–23.5 cm ), the narrower but about equally long lip (1.1 versus 0.5–0.7 cm wide when flattened) which has red or purple markings, the epichile with cuneate claw (versus claw rectangular ) with not undulating margins (versus strongly undulate) .