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Mediocalcar congestum

Mediocalcar congestum

Mediocalcar congestum Schuit., Orchid Monogr. 8 (1997) 49, fig. 12

Type: Reeve 5049 (holo L; iso K, LAE, NSW)

Roots densely covered with root hairs, 1 mm thick. Rhizome abbreviated, more or less frequently branching, 2-3 mm thick. Cataphylls of the young shoot 5-6, closely appressed, acute, glabrous, keeled near the tip. Pseudobulbs erect to suberect, approximate, narrowly conical to cylindrical, (1-) 2-4 cm long, 5 mm across at the base; base not elongated. Leaves one per pseudobulb, sessile, narrowly lanceolate (index 5.5-19), 3.5-12 (-15) cm by (5-) 8-15 mm; glabrous; margins entire; apex rounded, obscurely bilobed, mucronate, with the mucro as long as the lobules; coriaceous. Inflorescences solitary, synanthous and apparently also heteranthous or proteranthous; basal bract lanceolate, acuminate, 5-9 mm long. Peduncle 10-25 mm long, at the apex with a triangular bract 1.3 mm long. Pedicel and ovary 10-12 mm long. Flowers urceolate or vase-shaped, not or slightly oblique, 9-10.5 mm long. Synsepalum 9-10 mm long and 15 mm wide when cut open and flattened; free tips only slightly spreading, 4 mm long, subacute. Petals linear to lanceolate (index 4-8), 8 by 1-2 mm; apex acuminate; 3-nerved. Lip 7.5-8 by 3.5 mm in natural position, the blade broadly ovate when flattened; claw 3-3.3 by 2.7 mm, auricles rather inconspicuous to well developed, reflexed; apex acuminate, porrect; margins erect, clasping the column; spur short-saccate, 1.3 mm deep. Column 5.5 mm long, 2.2 mm wide at the apex, foot 0.7 mm long. Fruit not seen. (After Schuiteman, 1997)


Flowers orange or orange-red with green or yellowish tips.

Epiphyte in upper montane forest; 2150-2850 m.

Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Papua New Guinea. See map

distribution in New Guinea

Cool growing epiphyte, requires shaded position.

March, June, September.

  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Podochileae
  • Subtribe Eriinae
  • Genus Mediocalcar
  • Species Mediocalcar congestum

A species with tufted, erect pseudobulbs, which apears to be uncommon in the wild.


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Mediocalcar congestum

Mediocalcar congestum Schuit., pseudobulb with inflorescence, photo Ed de Vogel, from Papua New Guinea, Morobe Prov., Garaina, Leiden cult. 20121134 (Lyon).

Mediocalcar congestum

Mediocalcar congestum Schuit., habit, photo Ed de Vogel, from Papua New Guinea, Morobe Prov., Garaina, Leiden cult. 20121134 (Lyon).

Mediocalcar congestum

Mediocalcar congestum Schuit., flower, lateral view, photo Ed de Vogel, from Papua New Guinea, Morobe Prov., Garaina, Leiden cult. 20121134 (Lyon).

Mediocalcar congestum

Mediocalcar congestum Schuit., habit, photo A. Schuiteman, Leiden cult. 970726

Mediocalcar congestum

Mediocalcar congestum Schuit., habit detail, photo A. Schuiteman, Leiden cult. 970726

Mediocalcar congestum

Mediocalcar congestum Schuit., drawing A. Schuiteman in Orchid Monogr. 8 (1997) fig. 12

Mediocalcar congestum

Mediocalcar congestum Schuit., herbarium sheet, Reeve 5049 (holotype specimen L)