Genus Epiblastus
Epiblastus Schltr., in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 136
Synonyms:
- Eria sect. Lycastiformes Kraenzl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 25 (1898) 606. Type species not designated.
- Eria sect. Ornithidiiformes Kraenzl. in Engler, Pflanzenreich (1911) 27. Type species not designated.
Sympodial epiphytic or terrestrial plants, usually scrambling. Pseudobulbs superposed (in 1 species pseudobulbs closely spaced on a short rizome), each consisting of one internode, 1-leaved. Leaves duplicate, dorso-ventrally flattened, articulate, leathery, glabrous; base without leaf sheath. Inflorescences in fascicles from the top of the developing shoot,.each carrying a single flower. Flowers small, resupinate, usually (orange-)red, or white or pink. Sepals free, but usually more or less cohering in basal half; mentum saccate. Petals free, about as long as the median sepal, but somewhat narrower. Lip without spur, not mobile, longitudinally adnate to the column through a median basal callosity. Column shorter than column foott; pollinia 8, solid-waxy, laterally compressed; caudicles present; stipe absent; viscidium absent.
Sulawesi, Moluccas, Philippines, New Guinea, east to Samoa. About 15 species; in New Guinea c. 10 species.
Epiphytic in hill and montane forest. At higher altitudes terrestrial in open mossy places between trees and shrubs.
- Subfamily Epidendroideae
- Tribe Podochileae
- Subtribe Eriinae
- Genus Epiblastus
A characteristic genus allied to Mediocalcar, but the sepals are not connate as in the latter. The flowers always appear in fascicles from the young shoot, and what they lack in size they make up with their abundance and their bright colours, usually pink or red. The taxonomy of this genus is among the most perplexing of any genus in New Guinea. It seems certain that far too many species have been described, but where to draw the line between lumping and splitting is far from clear.
Genus Epiblastus in New Guinea contains 19 species:
Epiblastus accretus
Epiblastus acuminatus
Epiblastus angustifolius
Epiblastus auriculatus
Epiblastus basalis
Epiblastus chimbuensis
Epiblastus cuneatus
Epiblastus cuneatus var. unguiculatus
Epiblastus kerigomnensis
Epiblastus lancipetalus
Epiblastus montihageni
Epiblastus mutabilis
Epiblastus neohibernicus
Epiblastus ornithidioides
Epiblastus pteroglotta
Epiblastus pulchellus
Epiblastus pulchellus Schltr. var. nasiformis
Epiblastus pullei
Epiblastus schultzei
Epiblastus torricellensis
Epiblastus tuberculatus
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Genus Epiblastus
Epiblastus sp., flowers, photo E.F. de Vogel, from Leiden cult. 32251
Genus Epiblastus
Epiblastus sp, plant habit, photo E.F. de Vogel, from Leiden cult. 32251
Genus Epiblastus
Epiblastus sp, flowers, oblique lateral view, photo E.F. de Vogel, from Leiden cult. 32251
Genus Epiblastus
Epiblastus sp., flower, cut open, photo A. Schuiteman, Leiden cult. 32251
Genus Epiblastus
Epiblastus acuminatus Schltr., flowers, photo W. Harris, based on Harris 1683
Genus Epiblastus
Epiblastus basalis Schltr., plant habit, photo E.F. de Vogel, from Leiden cult.
Genus Epiblastus
Epiblastus sp., habit, photo N.E.G. Cruttwell, based on Cruttwell (2/81, PNG, Mt. Gahavisuka)
Genus Epiblastus
Epiblastus sp., plant habit, photo E.F. de Vogel, from Leiden cult. 20032209
Genus Epiblastus
Epiblastus, drawing N.H.S. Howcroft 474, from Manki Ra.