Orchids of New Guinea

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Dendrobium phalangium

Dendrobium phalangium Schltr., in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 154; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1923) t. 158, fig. 592.

Type: Schlechter 14345 (holo B, lost).

Synonyms:

Diplocaulobium phalangium (Schltr.) Kraenzl., in Engl.

Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs crowded, 1-leaved, slender, to the base ovoid-widened, 2-5 by 0.4-0.5 (at the base) to 0.1-0.15 cm (near the apex). Leaves oblong-ligulate, 3-6 by 0.6-1 cm, apex obtuse, unequally bilobulate, coriaceous. Inflorescences arising in succession from the apex of the pseudobulb, 1-flowered. Floral bract deltoid, minute. Pedicel and ovary 2.5 cm long, slender, glabrous. Flower resupinated, c. 4 cm wide. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, to the apex filiform-elongated, 2 cm long. Lateral sepals falcate-lanceolate, to the apex filiform-elongated, to the base abruptly widened, 2 cm long, mentum obtuse. Petals obliquely linear-lanceolate, to the apex filiform-elongated, c. 1.8 cm long. Lip weakly 3-lobed below the middle, 1.3 by 0.6 cm (in apical part), with two parallel keels extending from the base to the middle, the keels thickened distally, in front of the keels with an oblong callus; lateral lobes hardly developed, broadly rounded; midlobe suborbicular, weakly clawed, margins undulate, apex rounded. Column short, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the median lobule subulate, the laterals half as long, tooth-like, denticulate; column-foot as long as the column proper. Anther subquadrate-cucullate, glabrous, in front truncate.
(after Schlechter, 1905).

Colours:

Flowers pinkish red (late anthesis?), the lip white with brown-violet veins, callus white.

Habitat:

Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 800-1100 m.

Distribution:

New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua New Guinea (probably widespread; the type material from Sandaun Province: Torricelli Mountains).

Cultivation:

Intermediate growing epiphyte.

Flowering time in the wild:

April, September.

Classification:

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

Literature:

Schlechter, R. 1912. Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1: 470.

Notes:

Dendrobium phalangium Schltr. is a common and somewhat variable species, of which several later described species may turn out to be synonyms, e.g. Dendrobium ajoebii J.J.Sm., Dendrobium aratriferum J.J.Sm., Dendrobium fariniferum Schltr., Dendrobium gibbiferum J.J.Sm., Dendrobium pulvilliferum Schltr., and Dendrobium recurvifolium J.J.Sm. Dendrobium lageniforme J.J.Sm. is also closely related, this appears to be the earliest described species in this alliance, so its name will probably replace at least some of the ones mentioned above. The flowers, which last part of a single day, are white when newly opened but become reddish pink as the flowers start to wither.