Orchids of New Guinea

Dendrobium apiculiferum

Dendrobium apiculiferum J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12 (1913) 396; Nova Guinea 12

Type: Bogor cult. (Gjellerup) 120 (holo BO; L).

Synonyms:

Cadetia apiculifera (J.J.Sm.) Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58 (1922) 91.

Rhizome very short. Stems crowded, slender, clavate, 1.76-6 cm by 1.8 mm, 1-leaved. Leaves lanceolate, 2.3-5 by 0.65-0.9 cm, apex slightly unequally bidentate. Inflorescences terminal from the leaf axil, 1-flowered. Pedicel 0.7 cm long, in upper part sparsely muriculate; ovary 0.2 cm long, reversely appressed muriculate. Flower c. 0.8 cm across. Dorsal sepal subelliptic, 0.44 cm by 2.6 mm, apex aubacute. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong, 0.44 cm by 2.8 mm, apex narrowly obtuse; mentum 0.3 cm long. Petals narrowly linear, 0.45 cm by 0.4 mm. Lip 3-lobed, 0.37 by 0.2 cm; lateral lobes triangular, margins minutely erose, apex obtuse; midlobe transversely oblong, 0.1 by 0.25 cm, fleshy, apex apiculate. Column 0.18 cm long, hairy in front, stelidia laciniate, filament much shorter, triangular, acuminate; column-foot hairy at the base, 0.27 cm long.
(after Smith, 1916).

Colours:

Flower white, midlobe of lip yellowish, column at the apex spotted with purple.

Habitat:

Not recorded; in the lowlands.

Distribution:

New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua (Biak-Numfor and Jayapura Regencies).

Map: Dendrobium apiculiferum J.J.Sm., distribution map.

Cultivation:

Warm growing epiphyte.

Flowering time in the wild:

August.

Literature:

Smith, J.J. 1929. Nova Guinea 14: 399.

Notes:

Dendrobium apiculiferum J.J.Sm. is closely related to Dendrobium albiflorum Ridl., with which it should be compared.