Species Information - Anoectochilus papuanus

Anoectochilus papuanus (Schltr.) W.Kittr., Bot. Mus. Leafl. 30 (1984, publ. 1985) 95

Type:

Synonyms:

• Eucosia papuana Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 76
  - Type: Schlechter 17361 (holo B, lost; iso BO, L)

Basionym: Eucosia papuana

Terrestrial, small, about 15 cm high. Rhizome decumbent, stem-like. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Stem leafy nearly to the middle, terete, glabrous, in upper part with a few distant, bract-like scale-leaves, towards the inflorescence glandulose-puberulous. Leaves about 6, patent, petiolate, blade ovate or broadly ovate, acute, glabrous, 2.3-3.5 cm long, below the middle 1.8-2.5 cm wide, petiole dilated at the base, sheathing, 0.8-1.3 cm long. Inflorescence laxly few-flowered (in the type specimen 3-flowered), erect. Floral bracts erect-patent, elliptic, acuminate, glandulose-puberulous, more than half as long as the ovary. Sepals ovate, acuminate, outside glandulose-puberulous, 1.1 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, a little narrower than the median sepal. Petals as long as and adhering to the median sepal, obliquely lanceolate-ligulate, acute, at the base in front forming a rounded lobe, glabrous. Lip lanceolate-elliptic, acute, glabrous, inside along the mid-vein slightly thickened, glabrous, as long as the sepals, near the middle 0.4 cm wide. Column short, in front 2-ribbed, glabrous, rostellum erect, rather long, ligulate, apex shortly notched. Anther at the base broadly ovate-cucullate, deeply cordate, long-acuminate, dorsally with a lanceolate umbo, glabrous. Ovary subfusiform-cylindrical, glandulose-puberulous, about 1.3 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914, as Eucosia papuana Schltr.).

Note: Because of the simple petal-like lip this is rather different from most other species of Anoectochilus, which generally possess a highly complex lip, variously adorned with conspicuous marginal fringes. It may be assumed to be a stabilised peloric form, of which other examples occur in New Guinea, e.g. Calanthe papuana, Agrostophyllum neoguineense and Appendicula flaccida var. lobogyne.

---