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Podochilus scalpelliformis

Podochilus scalpelliformis

Podochilus scalpelliformis Blume, Rumphia 4 (1849) 45, pl. 194, fig. 4, pl. 200C

Type: Zippel s.n. (New Guinea) (holo L)

Small epiphyte with tufted, stiff, unbranched stems, 8-20 cm tall. Leaves with overlapping sheaths, to 1.2-1.5 by 0.2-0.3 cm, gradually decreasing in size towards the stem apex, bilaterally compressed, obtuse or pointed; blades articulated with the sheaths. Inflorescences lateral or terminal, gradually elongating and producing flowers one or two at a time, finally up to 3 cm long, but usually much less. Flower about 0.2 cm long. Sepals fused at the base, forming a broad tube, apices obtuse, apiculate. Median sepal 0.16 by 0.11 cm, ovate. Lateral sepals 0.2 by 0.11 cm, oblong; mentum 0.5 cm long, rhomboid-saccate, obtuse. Petals 0.1 by 0.11 cm, very broadly ovate, with a much narrower and very short claw, ventral margins erose, apex truncate. Lip 0.18 by 0.1 cm, clawed, the claw short, linear; blade oblong-ovate, fleshy, channeled, at the base with two small fleshy auricles parallel with and about as long as the claw; apex broadly obtuse. Column 0.11 cm long, broad; rostellum very long, slender, bifid. Pollinia in two pairs; viscidium single, long and slender, hyaline. (After O’Byrne, 1994)


Leaves dark green, purple in plants growing in exposed positions. Flower white with purple blotches on the tips of the petals and lip. The whole flower turns yellow with age.

Epiphyte in lowland and lower montane forest, sometimes lithophytic on limestone cliffs; 0 to 1100 m.

Malesia (Moluccas, New Guinea).

Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map

distribution map

Warm growing epiphyte, requires shaded position.

Flowering observed in every month of the year.

  • Schlechter, R., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 326
  • Schlechter, R., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1923) t. 117, fig. 440
  • O'Byrne, P., Lowland Orchid. Papua New Guinea (1994) 138, fig.
  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Podochileae
  • Subtribe Podochilinae
  • Genus Podochilus
  • Section Podochilus
  • Species Podochilus scalpelliformis

This common lowland orchid is easily distinguished from other New Guinea species of Podochilus by the bilaterally flattened leaves. Some New Guinea species of Octarrhena show a similar growth habit, but the white urn-shaped flowers of Podochilus scalpelliformis are very different from the widely opening yellowish or orange flowers seen in Octarrhena.


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Podochilus scalpelliformis

overview picture

Podochilus scalpelliformis

Podochilus scalpelliformis Blume, plant habit, photo E.F. de Vogel, based on Leiden cult. 20031752

Podochilus scalpelliformis

Podochilus scalpelliformis Blume, flowering stem, photo A. Schuiteman, based on Leiden cult. 20031643

Podochilus scalpelliformis

Podochilus scalpelliformis Blume, flowering stems, photo A. Schuiteman, based on Leiden cult. 20031643

Podochilus scalpelliformis

Podochilus scalpelliformis Blume, top of flowering stem, photo A. Schuiteman, based on Leiden cult. 20031643

Podochilus scalpelliformis

Podochilus scalpelliformis Blume, flowers, photo E.F. de Vogel, based on Leiden cult. 20031752

Podochilus scalpelliformis

Podochilus scalpelliformis Blume, flowers, photo A. Schuiteman, based on Leiden cult. 20031643

Podochilus scalpelliformis

Podochilus scalpelliformis Blume, plant on trunk of felled roadside tree, photo E.F. de Vogel, PNG, Western Prov.

Podochilus scalpelliformis

Podochilus scalpelliformis Blume, floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, from Bogor cult. (Treub) 622b

Podochilus scalpelliformis

Podochilus scalpelliformis Blume, drawing R. Schlechter in Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1923) t. 117, fig. 440

Podochilus scalpelliformis

Podochilus scalpelliformis Blume, herbarium sheet, Zippel s.n. (New Guinea) (holotype specimen L)

Podochilus scalpelliformis

Podochilus scalpelliformis Blume, stem part with inflorescence, photo and cult. Jeffrey Champion, plant from Tanah Papua, without locality

Podochilus scalpelliformis

Podochilus scalpelliformis Blume, flowers, front view, photo and cult. Jeffrey Champion, plant from Tanah Papua, without locality

Podochilus scalpelliformis

Podochilus scalpelliformis Blume, flowers, lateral view, photo and cult. Jeffrey Champion, plant from Tanah Papua, without locality