Prev Taxon: Genus Appendicula section Appendicula
Current Genus: Genus Appendicula section Chaunodesme
Next Taxon: Genus Appendicula section Cyphochilus
Appendicula brassii Ormerod, drawing by Paul Ormerod in Malesian Orchid J. 13 (2014) 44, fig. 4, based on L.J. Brass 12236 (holo AMES).
Type: L.J. Brass 12236 (holo AMES).
Synonyms:
Epiphytic herb. Rhizome short. Roots terete, densely pubescent, 0.05–0.15 cm thick. Stem simple to 1-branched, terete, densely leafy throughout, 31.5–62.3 by 0.15 cm; branchlet 9.0–12.5 cm long. Leaves oblong, 1.5–3.7 by 0.5–0.95 cm; leaf sheaths tubular, truncate, smooth, striate when dry; exposed part 0.5–0.8 cm long; apex biaristate, retuse. Inflorescence pseudoterminal, 2.6–4.7 cm long; peduncle 0.9–1.2 cm long; sheaths 2–3, somewhat subfoliaceous, to 1.15 cm long, with scarious margins, often ciliate-erose; rachis weakly flexuous, rather laxly successively 2–3-flowered, 1.5–3.2 cm long; floral bracts oblong-rhombic (possibly cymbiform), with scarious margins, ciliate-erose to lacerate, to 1.1 by 0.5 cm. Pedicel and ovary clavate, 0.5 cm long; ribs sharply keeled. Median sepal broadly lanceolate, 0.62 by 0.275 cm; midnerve strongly keeled; apex acute; 3-nerved. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-lanceolate, c. 0.9 by 0.36 cm (0.62 cm long along midnerve); midnerve strongly keeled; margins joined at front for c. 0.32 cm; apex acute; mentum subglobose, 0.2 by 0.3 cm. Petals ligulate, 0.525 by 0.15 cm; apex acute, with one branching vein. Lip c. spathulate on outline, 0.75 by 0.35 cm; claw cuneate, in narrowest part c. 0.11 cm wide; blade ovate, with obtuse-subacuminate apex, 3-nerved; margins below blade minutely cellular-denticulate; callus oblong, canaliculate, its base with 2 cornute, retrorse lobules, median emarginate at the base, continuing onto the disc as 2 thick subsigmoid keels. Column obliquely erect, c. 0.38 cm long; rostellum with lanceolate, acute arms, with deeply bifid apex; column foot C-shaped, 0.3 cm long.
Leaves more or less purple. Flowers white, segments tipped with green, throat, margins and base of lip deep purple, column purple.
On undergrowth in rainforest ravine (type), common low epiphyte in mossy forest. Altitude 1750–1800 m.
Malesia, New Guinea, endemic.
Indonesia, Papua Prov.,
Cool growing epiphyte.
January.
Appendicula brassii is similar to A. anomala (Schltr.) Schltr. but differs in the deeply channelled (versus 'flat') lip callus with two retrorse horns (versus short thickenings), the carinae of which terminate on the lower (versus subapical) half of the blade.
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