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Didymoplexis pallens

Didymoplexis pallens

Didymoplexis pallens Griff., Calcutta J. Nat. Hist. 4 (1844) (383), fig. 17(b):1-8

Type: Griffith s.n. (India, Calcutta, Serampore) (holo CAL)

Synonyms:

  • Epiphanes pallens (Griff.) Rchb.f. in Seem., Fl. Vitiensis (1868) 296
  • Gastrodia pallens (Griff.) F.Muell., Contr. Phytog. New Hebrides (1873) 22
  • Arethusa bengalensis Hort. ex Hemsl., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 20 (1883) 311
    - Type: not designated
  • Arethusa ecristata Griff., Not. Pl. Asiat. 3 (1851) 378; Icon. Pl. Asiat. pl. 343
    - Type: Griffith s.n. (Afghanistan)
  • Apetalon minutum Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Or. 5 (1851) 22, t. 1758
    - Type: Jerdon s.n. (Sultan's Battery, Coorg) (holo K)
  • Cheirostylis kanarensis Blatt. & McCann, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 35 (1932) 732, figs
    - Type: Bell s.n. (India, Bombay Pres., N. Kanara, Tatwal)
  • Leucorchis sylvatica Blume, Mus. Bot. Lugd. Bat. 1 (1849) 31
    - Type: Blume? (Harriang, Bantam Prov.) (holo L?)

Leafless terrestrial. Flowering stem to c. 20 tall, up to 20-flowered, but only one or two flowers open at a time. Median sepal 1.2 cm long, concave. Lateral sepals connate in basal half, rounded. Petals connate to the median sepal for about 0.3 cm, the free parts 0.4 cm long, 0.55 cm wide. Lip entire, with erect side-margins which just clasp the column, in front truncate with rounded corners, 0.7 by 1.3 cm. Column strongly curved, c. 0.6 cm long. (After Comber, 2001).


Stem pale brown. Flower pure white with a yellow spot on the front margin.

Terrestrial in forest.

Malesia (Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, ?New Guinea, The Philippines), India, Australia, Vanuatu.

Papua New Guinea. See map

distribution in New Guinea

Terrestrial, probably parasitic on fungi and probably impossible to grow under normal conditions.

Not known

  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Gastrodieae
  • Genus Didymoplexis
  • Species Didymoplexis pallens
  • Smith, J.J., Icon. Bogor. 2 (1903) 5, t. 101B
  • Smith, J.J., Orchid. Java (1905) 77
  • Smith, J.J., Orchid. Java, Fig.-Atl. (1908) fig. 51
  • Dockrill, A. W., Austral. Indig. Orchids 1 (1969) 218, fig.
  • Wood, J.J., Orchadian 7 (1982) 143
  • Comber, J.B., Orchids of Sumatra (2001) 112

Didymoplexis pallens Griff. differs from the other two New Guinea species of Didymoplexis in the lip being much broader than long (when flattened).


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Didymoplexis pallens

Didymoplexis pallens Griff., flower, front view, photo E.F. de Vogel, from Indonesia, Java. Java Barat Prov., wild population in Kebun Raya Bogor

Didymoplexis pallens

Didymoplexis pallens Griff., flower, front view, photo E.F. de Vogel, from Indonesia, Java. Java Barat Prov., wild population in Kebun Raya Bogor

Didymoplexis pallens

Didymoplexis pallens Griff., flower, oblique front view, photo E.F. de Vogel, from Indonesia, Java. Java Barat Prov., wild population in Kebun Raya Bogor

Didymoplexis pallens

Didymoplexis pallens Griff., flower, oblique lateral view, photo E.F. de Vogel, from Indonesia, Java. Java Barat Prov., wild population in Kebun Raya Bogor