Orchids of New Guinea

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Thrixspermum amplexicaule

Thrixspermum amplexicaule (Blume) Rchb.f., Xenia Orchid. 2 (1868) 121

Synonyms:

Sarcochilus amplexicaulis (Blume) Rchb.f. in Walp., Ann. Bot. Syst. 6 (1861) 499
Dendrocolla amplexicaulis Blume, Bijdr. (1825) 288
- Type: Blume s.n., H.L.B. 903,16-2658 (lecto L); 903,16-2659 (isolecto L); -2660 (isolecto AMES, K, L)
Aerides amplexicaulis (Blume) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. (1833) 239
Orsidice amplexicaulis (Blume) Rchb.f., Bonplandia 2 (1854) 93
Orsidice lilacina (Griff.) Rchb.f., Bonplandia 2 (1854) 93
Sarcochilus lilacinus Griff., Not. Pl. Asiat. 3 (1851) 334
- Type: Griffith s.n. Herb. Lindley prob. (K)
Thrixspermum lilacinum (Griff.) Rchb.f., Xenia Orchid. 2 (1868) 121
Thrixspermum oeonioides Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 16 (1919) 129
- Type: Kempf s.n. (Kaiser Wilhelmsland, Waria area) (holo B, lost)

Basionym: Dendrocolla amplexicaulis

Terrestrial, erect, c. 50 cm tall. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stems unbranched, erect or ascending, flexuose, rooting, up to 50 cm long, terete, laxly leafy, c. 0.9 cm diam. Leaves erect-patent, ovate or oblong-ovate, very shortly bilobulate, at the base amplexicaul, fleshy-coriaceous, 4-5 cm long, below the middle 1.7-2.5 cm wide. Inflorescences arising near the middle of the stem, suberect, usually overtopping the stem; peduncle slender, to 25 cm long, terete, with a few distant peduncle-scales. Inflorescence distichous, gradually elongating, to 13 cm long. Floral bracts equitant, deltoid-oblong, obtuse, falcate, about 3 times shorter than the pedicellate ovary. Flowers erect-patent. Sepals oblong, obtuse, 1.4 cm long, glabrous. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely elliptic-oblong, obtuse, a little smaller than the sepals. Lip cucullate-saccate, above the middle 3-lobed, c. 1 cm long, when flattened in outline elliptic, inside at the base with 3 papillose lines, in the middle with a semioblong-ligulate, obtuse, very small callus; lateral lobes falcate-oblong, obtuse; mid-lobe fleshy, oblong-ligulate, obtuse, the lateral lobes surpassing for half their length. Column short, rather thick; foot ligulate, c. 0.6 cm long. Ovary slender, glabrous, c. 1 cm long. Fruit cylindrical, slender, up to 5 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1919)

Colours:

Flower pale lilac.

Habitat:

Terrestrial in lowland grassland; 0 to 600 m.

Distribution:

Malesia (Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, Moluccas, New Guinea, Philippines, Bangka), Thailand, ?Laos, Vietnam, Andaman Islands, Solomon Islands.

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map

Cultivation:

Warm growing terrestrial, requires light position.

Flowering time in the wild:

July, September, November.

References:

Smith, J.J., Orchid. Java (1905) 573
Smith, J.J., Orchid. Java, Fig.-Atl. (1912) fig. 430
Howcroft, N, Orchadian 3 (1970) 114, fig.

Classification:

Family Orchidaceae
Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Vandeae
Subtribe Aeridinae
Genus Thrixspermum
Section Thrixspermum
Species Thrixspermum amplexicaule