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Dendrobium aberrans

Dendrobium aberrans

Dendrobium aberrans Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 484; 21 (1923) t. 163, fig. 609.

Type: Schlechter 19550 (holo B, lost; iso AD, AMES, BO, K, L 2x, MO, S).

Synonyms:

  • Sayeria aberrans (Schltr.) Rauschert, Feddes Repert. 94 (1983) 466.
  • Asarum aberrans (Schltr.) Archila, Revista Guatemalensis 18(1) (2015) 31, nom. illeg. (not Asarum L.)

A small epiphytic herb. Pseudobulbs clustered, narrowly clavate, 3-4-noded below leaves, 3-20 by 0.4-1.3 cm, purple or olive-yellow, 2-3-leaved at apex. Leaves coriaceous, spreading, ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, 3.5-10.2 by 1.6-3.1 cm. Inflorescences several, erect to arcuate-pendent, 6-8 cm long, 2-6-flowered; peduncle slender, wiry; bracts ovate-elliptic, acute, 2-4.5 mm long. Flowers opening widely. Dorsal sepal elliptic, obtuse, 7 by 5 mm; lateral sepals obliquely oblong-elliptic, obtuse, 7-9 by 6.5 mm; mentum subglobose, 5 mm long. Petals lanceolate, rounded it apex, 6.5 by 3 mm, with erose apical margins. Lip clawed, spreading widely, 3-lobed, flabellate in outline, with prominently raised veins, 1 by 1.4 cm; side-lobes obovate, with erose margins; midlobe smaller than side-lobes, deeply emarginate to half length; callus fleshy on claw, obscurely 3-ridged. column 2 mm long; foot 5 mm long, incurved.
(after Cribb, 1983).

Dendrobium aberrans is quite distinctive within the group having pretty white flowers often marked with pink on the column. The three-lobed lip has an emarginate midlobe and rugulosely fleshy veins on the side-lobes.
(after Cribb, 1983).


Flowers white or creamy white.

Epiphyte in mossy forests of Castanopsis, Nothofagus, tree fern etc. Altitude 300-1900 m.

New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea (widespread in the eastern part).

Map: Dendrobium aberrans Schltr., distribution map, redrawn from P. Cribb, Kew Bull. 38 (1983) 289, map 7.

Intermediate growing epiphyte.

May, June, August, December.

  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Dendrobieae
  • Subtribe Dendrobiinae
  • Genus Dendrobium
  • Section Latouria
  • Species Dendrobium aberrans
  • Cribb, P.J. 1983. Kew Bull. 38: 296, fig. 18G, H, pl. 17D, map 7.

Dendrobium aberrans Schltr. belongs to a distinctive group within sect. Latouria in which the mentum is saccate or subsaccate rather than conical in lateral view. The lip is also quite distinctive being mostly broader than long with side-lobes generally larger than the midlobe. The latter if well-developed is commonly deeply emarginate. The group owes it attribution to sect. Latouria largely to its vegetative habit.


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Dendrobium aberrans

Dendrobium aberrans Schltr., photo John Cara, flower, front view, cult John Cara, from PNG.

Dendrobium aberrans

Dendrobium aberrans Schltr., photo John Cara, plant habit, cult , from PNG.

Dendrobium aberrans

Dendrobium aberrans Schltr., photo John Cara, plant habit, cult John Cara, from PNG.

Dendrobium aberrans

Dendrobium aberrans Schltr., photo John Cara, plant habit, cult John Cara, from PNG.

Dendrobium aberrans

Dendrobium aberrans Schltr., photo John Cara, flowers, front view, cult John Cara, from PNG.

Dendrobium aberrans

Dendrobium aberrans Schltr., flowers, photo D. Titmuss

Dendrobium aberrans

Dendrobium aberrans Schltr., flower, photo D. Titmuss, based on D. Banks cult.

Dendrobium aberrans

Dendrobium aberrans Schltr., flower, photo P. Jongejan, based on Jongejan 1411

Dendrobium aberrans

Dendrobium aberrans Schltr., drawing John Cara, plant habit, flower analysis.

Dendrobium aberrans

Dendrobium aberrans Schltr., drawing by M. Church in Kew Bull. 38 (1983) 298, fig. 18 G, H

Dendrobium aberrans

Dendrobium aberrans Schltr., drawing R. Schlechter in Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1923) t. 163, fig. 609

Dendrobium aberrans

Dendrobium aberrans Schltr., isotype specimen: Schlechter 19550 (L)

Dendrobium aberrans

Dendrobium aberrans Schltr., detail of isotype specimen: Schlechter 19550 (L)

Dendrobium aberrans

Dendrobium aberrans Schltr., flower variation, cult John Cara, from PNG, photo John Cara