Prev Taxon: Genus Appendicula section Pododesme
Current Genus: Genus Appendicula section Pseudappendicula
Next Taxon: Genus Arachnis
Appendicula dichaeoides Ormerod, Orchadian 16 (2011) 513, fig.
Type: L.J. Brass 6876 (holo AMES).
Synonyms:
Epiphytic herb. Roots terete, to 0.1 cm thick. Rhizome very short. Stems caespitose, terete, densely leafy throughout, 4-10 by 0.05-0.1 cm. Leaves patent, thin, ovate-oblong to elliptic, 0.15-0.3 cm apart, 0.7-1.05 by 0.25-0.45 cm; sheaths tubular. Inflorescence terminal, sessile, densely flowered, 0.8-1.4 cm long, slightly flexuous but straightening and thickening when bearing capsules, occasionally at the base with 1 branch to 5 mm long; floral bracts arcuate-patent, ovate-elliptic, 0.5-0.8 by 0.3-0.7 cm, margin erose-lacerate, apex mucronate, 7-nerved. Pedicel and ovary terete, 0.25-0.275 cm long. Median sepal oblong-Ianceolate, c. 0.35 by 0.15 cm; apex with a short dorsal apiculus. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-oblong, 0.395-4 by 0.15 cm; basal extensions concave, enclosing the spur, subquadrate, c. 0.18 by 0.19 cm; apex with a prominent apiculus; midrib slightly carinate. Petals obliquely elliptic, 0.275-3 by 013-0.14 cm; apex subacute. Lip spurred, entire; spur obovoid-ellipsoid, truncate-rounded, c. 0.15 by 0.09-0.095 cm, inside at apex with a thick erect callus; blade broadly obovate-rhombic, 0.35 by 0.21-0.22 cm, its front margin dentate, with rounded apex, , median at the base softly pilose, more apically with an erect disc-shaped verticaltal callus, and eextending to near the apex with a low rugulose cuneate-flabellate callus. Column c. 0.15 cm long, seemingly footless. Fruit ellipsoid, 0.3-0.4 by 0.15- 0.2 cm.
(after Ormerod 2011)
Leaf sheaths purple tinged toward stem apex. Floral bracts tinged pale purple. Flowers white.
River plain forest, on trunks near ground level up to the upper branches of canopy trees. Altitude 100 m.
Maleaia (New Guinea, endemic).
Papua New Guinea (Western Province).
Warm growing epiphyte
June.
Appendicula dichaeoides is similar to A. bracteata (Schltr.) J.J. Sm. and A. oxysepala (Schltr.) J.J. Sm. in its erose-lacerate floral bracts but differs in the obliquely elliptic petals (not ligulate) and in the disc-shaped median callus on the lip (not pulvinate, U-shaped).
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