Orchids of New Guinea

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Taeniophyllum antennatum

Taeniophyllum antennatum Schuit. & de Vogel, Malesian Orchid J. 4 (2009) 119, fig. 17-18

Type: Leiden cult. 20031981 (E. F. de Vogel & A. Vogel) (holo LAE; iso L [all spirit material])

Roots to at least 14 cm by 0.57 cm, flattened. Stem very short, covered with scale-leaves. Inflorescences 0.9–1,2 cm long, producing 4–5 flowers in succession; peduncle 0.4–0.7 cm long; rachis glabrous, straight, internodes very short. Floral bracts spirally arranged, clasping the rachis, patent, concave, triangular, 0.2 cm long; apex acute-acuminate. Flowers 1.6 cm diam., opening widely. Median sepal narrowly elliptic, 0.95 by 0.24 cm; apex obtuse; 3-nerved. Lateral sepals narrowly elliptic, 0.89 by 0.26 cm; apex slightly oblique, obtuse; 3-nerved. Petals narrowly elliptic, 0.8 by 0.22 cm; apex slightly oblique, obtuse; 3-nerved. Lip appressed to the column, 3-lobed, spurred, in outline broadly ovate, without the spur 0.8 by 0.73 cm when flattened; spur 0.58 cm long, cylindrical-clavate, obtuse, subparallel with the ovary; lateral lobes subpatent, obliquely triangular, 0.2 cm long along interior margin of the sinus with the mid-lobe, exterior margins somewhat erose, apex acute; midlobe triangular-ovate, 0.35 by 0.25 cm, almost entirely covered with a subcordate callus, at 0.14 cm below the apex on either side with a subulate, sigmoid, 0.09 cm long lateral appendage, apex subacute. Column very short, 0.21 cm long; rostellum large, 0.15 cm long, shield-like, with a longitudinal median groove, bilobulate. Anther cucullate, long rostrate, 0.22 by 0.1 cm; base angular-orbicular; beak conspicuous, somewhat longer and narrower than the basal part, ligulate, obtuse; pollinia slightly flattened, obliquely ellipsoid, 0.05 cm long; stipe spathulate with incurved margins, 0.17 cm long; viscidium 0.16 cm long, oblong, with a somewhat shorter linear-oblong appendage on underside. Ovary terete, 6-grooved, in the grooves slightly furfuraceous, 0.62 cm long.
(after Schuiteman & de Vogel, 2009)

Colours:

Sepals and petals pale yellow-green, lip lighter so, callus on midlobe yellowish; column, pedicel and ovary light green; anther dull light yellow.

Habitat:

Epiphyte in abandoned rubber plantation. Altitude 450 m.

Distribution:

alesia (New Guinea)

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua New Guinea (Oro Prov.); see map

Cultivation:

Warm growing epiphyte.

Flowering time in the wild:

In cultivation in Hortus botanicus Leiden throughout the year.

Classification:

Family Orchidaceae
Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Vandeae
Subtribe Aeridinae
Genus Taeniophyllum
Section Loboglossum
Species Taeniophyllum antennatum

Notes:

Taeniophyllum antennatum has very short inflorescence which would place it in section Taeniophyllum according to Schlechter’s classification (1911–1914, as sect. Trachyrhachis). However, the flower morphology and the glabrous rachis of the inflorescence suggest sect. Loboglossum. Taeniophyllum antennatum is easily distinguished from the other members of sect. Loboglossum by the antenna-like lateral appendages on the midlobe of the lip.