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Thelasis sphaerocarpa

Thelasis sphaerocarpa

Thelasis sphaerocarpa (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 12, 4 (1916) 430, pl. 162, fig. 305

Synonyms:

  • Rhynchophreatia sphaerocarpa (Schltr.) Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 56 (1921) 488
  • Octarrhena sphaerocarpa (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 95
  • Phreatia sphaerocarpa Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 192
    - Type: Schlechter 13778; 14663 (B, lost)
  • Phreatia thelasiflora J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19 (1908) 32
    - Type: Versteeg 1393 (syn BO; isosyn L); 1560 (syn BO; isosyn L)

Basionym: Phreatia sphaerocarpa

Epiphytic, erect, stemless or almost stemless, 6-9 cm high; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Leaves 6-8, distichous, erect-patent, linear-oblong, apex unequally bilobulate, glabrous, subcoriaceous, 4-7 by 0.5-0.8 cm; leaf-sheaths clasping, 0.6-1 cm long. Inflorescence erect, as long as the leaves or longer, with 3-4 small, distant acuminate, peduncle-scales; rachis laxly 5-15-flowered. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, minute, much shorter than the ovary. Flowers not resupinate, patent or pendent. Sepals, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, 0.25 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, dilated along the front margins towards the base. Petals obliquely lanceolate-ligulate, acuminate, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip at the base oblong, concave, 3-lobed; lateral lobes short, obtuse; mid-lobe elongated, ovate, obtuse, much longer than the lateral lobes; lip in total 0.25 cm long, to the tips of the lateral lobes 0.2 cm long, with two swollen, decurrent lines extending from the base to the margins of the mid-lobe. Column short; rostellum and clinandrium minute. Anther cordate, in front acuminate; pollinia 8; stipe very slender, narrowly linear, twice as long as the pollinia. Ovary pedicellate, clavate, 0.25 cm long, glabrous. Fruit subglobose. (After Schlechter, 1905)


Flower whitish.

Epiphyte in primary and secondary forest; 25 to 1433 m.

Malesia (New Guinea).

Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map

distribution map

Flowering observed in every month of the year.

  • Smith, J.J., Nova Guinea 8, 1 (1909) 107, t. 36, fig. 120, as Phreatia thelasiflora J.J.Sm.
  • Schlechter, R., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 909, as Phreatia sphaerocarpa Schltr.
  • Smith, J.J., Nova Guinea 12, 4 (1916) 430, t. 162, fig. 305
  • Schlechter, R., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1928) t. 317, fig. 1220, as Phreatia sphaerocarpa Schltr.
  • Smith, J.J., Nova Guinea 18, 1 (1935) 71
  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Podochileae
  • Subtribe Thelasiinae
  • Genus Thelasis
  • Section Hemithelasis
  • Species Thelasis sphaerocarpa

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Thelasis sphaerocarpa

overview picture

Thelasis sphaerocarpa

Thelasis sphaerocarpa (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., inflorescence, photo A. Schuiteman, based on Leiden cult. 20031633

Thelasis sphaerocarpa

Thelasis sphaerocarpa (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., flower, photo A. Schuiteman, based on Leiden cult. 20031633

Thelasis sphaerocarpa

Thelasis sphaerocarpa (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., flowers, photo A. Schuiteman, based on Leiden cult. 20031633

Thelasis sphaerocarpa

Thelasis sphaerocarpa (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., flower, front view slightly from below, and buds, photo E.F. de Vogel, based on Leiden cult. 20031633

Thelasis sphaerocarpa

Thelasis sphaerocarpa (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., habit, photo A. Schuiteman, based on Leiden cult. 20031633

Thelasis sphaerocarpa

Thelasis sphaerocarpa (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, from Janowski 82

Thelasis sphaerocarpa

Thelasis sphaerocarpa (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, from versteeg 1393

Thelasis sphaerocarpa

Thelasis sphaerocarpa (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., lip and bract, drawing J.J. Smith, from Janowski 82

Thelasis sphaerocarpa

Thelasis sphaerocarpa (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., flower, lip, column, and pollinia, drawing J.J. Smith, from Branderhorst 275B

Thelasis sphaerocarpa

Thelasis sphaerocarpa (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., habit, drawing Natadipoera, from Branderhorst 275B

Thelasis sphaerocarpa

Thelasis sphaerocarpa (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, from Branderhorst 275B

Thelasis sphaerocarpa

Thelasis sphaerocarpa (Schltr.) J.J.Sm., floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, from Docters van Leeuwen 9010

Thelasis sphaerocarpa

Phreatia sphaerocarpa Schltr., drawing R. Schlechter in Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1928) t. 317, fig. 1220

Thelasis sphaerocarpa

Phreatia thelasiflora J.J.Sm., herbarium sheet, Versteeg 1393 (syntype specimen L)

Thelasis sphaerocarpa

Phreatia thelasiflora J.J.Sm., herbarium sheet, Versteeg 1560 (syntype specimen L)