Prev Taxon: Genus Apostasia
Current Genus: Genus Appendicula
Next Taxon: Genus Appendicula section Appendicula
Appendicula hexadens
Appendicula hexadens Ormerod, Checkl. Papuasian Orch. (2017) 24, 462 (fig.).
Type: Brass 23385 (holo AMES).
Synonyms:
Epiphytes. Rhizome not seen. Roots terete, pubescent, to 0.1 cm thick. Stem terete, leafy throughout, 41 by 0.20-0.25 cm. Leaves lanceolate to ligulate-lanceolate, 4.5-8.6 by 0.8-1,3 cm; margins minutely serrate to dentate toward the apex; apex 3-dentate, tips to 0.15 cm long ; leaf sheaths tubular, striate, opposite the leaf lamina with a 0.1-0.35 cm deep gap. Inflorescence pseudoterminal, 5.5 cm long; peduncle 1.5 cm long ; rachis 4 cm long; floral bracts narrowly oblong, reflexed, concave, to 0.5 cm long. Flowers many, dense, opening in succession. Pedicel and ovary club-shaped, c. 0.45 cm long. Median sepal ovate, 0.43 by 0.26 cm; midnerve keeled near tip; apex obtuse; 3-nerved. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, subacute, 0.44 (along top margin) or 0.57 (along lower margin) by c. 0.46 cm; 3-nerved; mentum broadly rounded, widely ellipsoid, c. 0.2 cm long. Petals oblong, 0.4 by 0.1.5 cm; apex obtuse to irregular; 3-nerved. Lip obovate-subpandurate, c. 0.52 cm long; hypochile elliptic, concave, c. 0.25 by 0.15 cm: epichile transversely broad elliptic, c. 0.25 by 0.39 cm; margin irregularly dentate; keels 2, on the hypochile fused and swollen , grooved, at the base obtuse, in front somewhat narrowing and separating, continuing on the epichile as low, swollen, laterally curved keels. Column short. stout. semiterete, c. 0.2 cm long; column foot c. 0.2 cm long. (After Ormerod, 2017).
Flowers pale yellow, segments edged with purple.
Epiphyte on base of trunks in oak forest. Altitude 2250 m.
Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Papua New Guinea, Milne Bay Prov. See map
Intermediate growing terrestrial, prefers light shade.
March, June, October.
- Family Orchidaceae
- Subfamily Epidendroideae
- Tribe Podochileae
- Subtribe Podochilinae
- Genus Appendicula
- Section Chaunodesme
- Species Appendicula hexadeens
Appendicula hexadens is similar to A. dendrobioides in habit and floral features, but differs in the much shorter, broader mentum. The six ''teeth' ' of the column may possibly be due to insect damage.
A collection from Eastern Highlands Prov., Arau, 1400 m, 8 October 1959, Brass 31953 (US ) is similar to A. hexadens in the habit, short, the rounded mentum and the lip shape, but differs in being a more robust plant (stem to 0.4 cm thick), leaves to 10.6 by 1.45 cm, and flowers with petals narrowed at the base and the apex. It probably represents an undescribed species.
Sponsored Ads
Appendicula hexadens
Appendicula hexadens Ormerod, drawing by Paul Ormerod in Checkl. Papuasian Orch. (2017) 24, 462 (fig.).