Genus Plocoglottis
Plocoglottis Blume, Bijdr. (1825) 380
Synonyms:
Sympodial terrestrial plants with short to very short rhizomes. Pseudobulbs present or not, consisting of one to several internodes, 1- or few-leaved, when absent stem elongated, few- to many-leaved. Leaves at the base sheathing or not, glabrous, plicate, deciduous or not, convolute, green, sometimes purple, or with silvery green longitudinal bands, or with pale yellow spots, thin-textured. Inflorescence lateral from the base of the plant, a many-flowered raceme, with the flowers opening in succession. Flowers medium-sized, resupinate. Sepals free. Petals free, about as long as the sepals, but usually somewhat narrower. Lip without spur, elastically hinged to the column, sensitive (see notes below). Column-foot very short or absent. Pollinia 4, solid, caudicles present, stipe absent, viscidium present.
Genus Plocoglottis in New Guinea contains 19 species:
Plocoglottis confertiflora
Plocoglottis janowskyi
Plocoglottis kaniensis
Plocoglottis lacuum
Plocoglottis lancifolia
Plocoglottis latifrons
Plocoglottis longicuspis
Plocoglottis lowii
Plocoglottis mamberamensis
Plocoglottis moluccana
Plocoglottis neohibernica
Plocoglottis pseudomoluccana
Plocoglottis sakiensis
Plocoglottis seranica
Plocoglottis sororia
Plocoglottis sphingoides
Plocoglottis striata
Plocoglottis torana
Plocoglottis torricellensis
Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands. About 40 species; in New Guinea about 15 species.
Terrestrial in lowland and montane forest, usually in shady locations.
- Eang Hourt Khou. 2005. A revision of the New Guinea species of Plocoglottis. MSc thesis, University of Leiden, The Netherlands (unpublished manuscript).
- Pridgeon, A. M., P.J. Cribb, M.W. Chase & F.N. Rasmussen (Eds.). 2005. Genera Orchidacearum, Volume 4: Epidendroideae (Part one). Pp. 155-156. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
- Subfamily Epidendroideae
- Tribe Collabieae
- Genus Plocoglottis
This highly distinctive genus is easily recognised by the relatively small sensitive lip, which snaps upward against the column when touched, never to resume its original position unless forced to do so. Although most species of Plocoglottis are not overly attractive and rarely seen in collections they are well worth cultivating for their curiosity value.
Partly based on vegetative characters and partly on floral ones, Plocoglottis can easily be divided into three sections.
Key to the sections of Plocoglottis
1a Plant with 1- or 2-leaved pseudobulbs ... 2
1b Plant without pseudobulbs but with slender stems carrying several to many leaves ... section Caulescentes (synonym: sect. Phyllocaulos)
2a Lip with fringed margins; lateral sepals swollen at the apex ... section Porphyrophyllos
2b Lip with entire margins; apices of lateral sepals not swollen ... section Plocoglottis
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Genus Plocoglottis
Plocoglottis sp., flower, photo J.B. Comber, National Capital Botanical Garden, Port Moresby, without locality
Genus Plocoglottis
Plocoglottis sp., inflorescence, photo J.B. Comber, National Capital Botanical Garden, Port Moresby, without locality
Genus Plocoglottis
Plocoglottis confertiflora J.J.Sm., flower. lateral view, photo E.F. de Vogel, Leiden cult. 20031743 (Harris 1692), from Papua New Guinea, Central Highlands Prov.
Genus Plocoglottis
Plocoglottis moluccana Blume, plant in natural habitat, photo E.F. de Vogel, Papua New Guinea, Morobe Prov.
Genus Plocoglottis
Plocoglottis moluccana Blume, flowers, photo E.F. de Vogel, Papua New Guinea, Morobe Prov.
Genus Plocoglottis
Plocoglottis seranica J.J.Sm., plant in situ, photo A. Schuiteman, Indonesia, Papua Barat Prov., Maybrat Regency
Genus Plocoglottis
Plocoglottis seranica J.J.Sm., flower, photo A. Schuiteman, Yumte 100, Indonesia, Papua Barat Prov., Maybrat Regency
Genus Plocoglottis
Plocoglottis mamberamensis J.J.Sm., floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, from Feuilletau de Bruyn 148