Species Information - Thelasis angustifolia

Thelasis angustifolia J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 12, 4 (1916) 432, pl. 164, fig. 308

Type: Gjellerup 885 (holo BO; iso L)

Synonyms:

• Rhynchophreatia angustifolia (J.J.Sm.) Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 56 (1921) 488

Stem short, densely 5-6-leaved. Leaves erect-patent, linear, at the apex narrowed, unequally minutely bilobulate with a thick short apicule or a long conical one dorsally between the lobules, at the base long petiolate-narrowed and conduplicate, angular-channelled, the sides convex, underneath obtusely convex and furfuraceous-punctate, somewhat fleshy, 2-9.5 by 0.17-0.4 cm; sheaths strongly dilated, in the basal part tubular and in front membranous, distally narrowed and with irregular margins, at the apex broader than the base of the leaf-blade and on either side forming an obtuse auricle, furfuraceous-punctate, 0.5-1 cm long. Inflorescences axillary, erect, at the apex laxly several-flowered; peduncle thin, 2.25-4.5 cm long; peduncle-scales small, c. 3, tubular, acuminate, above laterally flattened, keeled, acute, furfuraceous-punctate, to 0.55 cm long; rachis angular, furfuraceous-punctate, to 1.75 cm long. Floral bracts persistent, widely patent, initially appressed to the pedicel, at the base dilated and triangular, above linear-subulate-acuminate, concave, 0.16-0.27 cm long. Flowers very small, turned to all sides, 0.08-0.1 cm apart, without ovary 0.23 cm long. Sepals dorsally sparsely furfuraceous-punctate. Median sepal ovate, obtuse, concave, 1-nerved, 0.2 by 0.13 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely triangular, 0.24 by 0.18 cm, acute, concave, 1-nerved, with the mid-rib dorsally obtuse and prominent; mentum very short obtuse. Petals obliquely oblong, apiculate, 1-nerved, 0.17 by 0.08 cm. Lip concave, when flattened rhombic, weakly 3-lobed, below the middle broadly thickened, with a basal thickening, on either side delimited by a longitudinal concavity (nectary), convex below, below the middle slightly broadly channelled, 3-nerved, 0.24 by 0.15 cm; lateral lobes angular-semiorbicular; mid-lobe much larger, triangular, obtuse, apiculate. Column dorsally convex, 0.1 cm long, at the apex triangular, obtuse; clinandrium concave; rostellum porrect, 2-dendatum. Anther equalling the rostellum, cordate, acuminate, acute, 0.08 cm long. Ovary (when fertilised) subglobose-obconical, triangular, 3-ribbed, 0.23 cm long; pedicel with ovary sparsely furfuraceous-punctate, articulated above the base, 0.18 cm. long. (After Smith, 1916)

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