Orchids of New Guinea

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Crepidium wappeanum

Crepidium wappeanum (J.J.Sm.) Szlach., Fragm. Florist. Geobot. Suppl. 3 (1995) 133

Type: Janowsky 317 (holo L; iso BO, BO spirit)

Synonyms:

Microstylis wappeana J.J.Sm., Meded. Rijks-Herb. 23 (1915) 3
Malaxis wappeana (J.J.Sm.) P.F.Hunt, Kew Bull. 24 (1970) 85
Pseudoliparis wappeana (J.J.Sm.) Marg., Ann. Bot. Fennici 40 (2003) 64 ('wapeana')

Plants 13—16 cm tall. Rhizome few cm long, with nodes covered by tubular scales. Roots appearing from the basal nodes of stem. Leafy stem fusiform, erect, 3—3.75 cm long. Leaves 4—6; petiole and sheath 1.1—2.5 cm long; blade oblique, ovate to oblong ovate, 1.6—3.5 by 0.8—1.2 cm; apex apiculate; usually 5-nerved. Inflorescence erect, 10—12 cm long; peduncle 4—5.5 cm long, with usually 1, reflexed sterile bracts; raceme subdense to dense many-flowered, 6—7 cm tall. Floral bracts deflexed, lanceolate to triangular-lanceolate, c. 0.35 by 0.07—0.1 cm; apex acute to acuminate; 1-nerved. Pedicel and ovary sinuate, 0.3—0.4 cm long,. Flowers c. 0.4.5—0.55 cm in diam. Sepals and petals with lateral margin slightly down curved. Median sepal ovate to oblong ovate, c. 0.35 by 0.15—0.16 cm; apex obtuse. Lateral sepals oblique, ovate to oblong ovate, c. 0.34 by 0.16—0.17 cm; apex obtuse. Petals oblique, ovate-rhombic to trullate, c. 0.35 by 0.17—0.18 cm; base cuneate; apex subacute to subapiculate; 1-veined. Lip oblong ovate to oblong elliptic, 0.3—0.32 by 0.17—0.18 cm; mid-lobe apiculate at apex, not distinct from lateral lobes; lateral lobes with short, falcate, convergent, semi-lunate auricles 0.06—0.07 by 0.05—0.07 cm with acute apex; central part of lip with 2 parallel, convergent, longitudinal lamellae 0.16—0.18 by 0.01—0.02 cm, 0.005—0.01 cm thick, separated by a shallow recess; basal callus small, obtuse at apex. Column recurved, 0.22—0.23 by 0.06—0.08 cm, distinctly papillose, especially in basal part; staminodes slightly longer than anther, slightly falcate, 0.08—0.09 by 0.04—0.05 cm; apex obtuse. Anther 0.06—0.07 by c. 0.03 cm, pale yellow. Fruit obovoid.
(after Margonska 2003)

Colours:

Leaf green above, paler grey-green beneath. Inflorescence pale green. Floral bracts pale green. Pedicel and ovary pale apple-green. Flowers yellow; apex of column darker coloured; anther pale yellow. Fruit fawn.
(after Margonska 2003)

Habitat:

Terrestrial in montane forest, in litter.

Distribution:

Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua (Indonesia): Asmat Regency. See map

Cultivation:

Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.

Flowering time in the wild:

May.

References:

Smith, J.J., Nova Guinea 12, 3 (1915) 218, t. 71, fig. 124, as Microstylis wappeana J.J.Sm.

Classification:

Family Orchidaceae
Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Malaxideae
Genus Crepidium
Section Pseudoliparis
Species Crepidium wappeanum

Notes:

P. wappeana can be easily distinguished from Pseudoliparis zippelii by its broader leaves, flowers which are always yellow, short lateral lobes, and the two characteristic, longitudinal, convergent lamellae on the lip.