Species Information - Spathoglottis portusfinschii

Spathoglottis portusfinschii Kraenzl. in K.Schum. & Hollr., Fl. Kais. Wilh. Land (1889) 32

Type: Hollrung 230 (holo B, lost)

Synonyms:

• Spathoglottis hollrungii Kraenzl. in K.Schum. & Hollr., Fl. Kais. Wilh. Land (1889) 33
  - Type: Hollrung s.n. (near Boja) (holo B, lost)
• Spathoglottis lauterbachiana Kraenzl. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1901) 244
  - Type: Lauterbach 2251 (holo B, lost)

Rhizome short. Pseudobulbs clustered, 3-6-leaved, ovoid, conical to flattened-subglobose, somewhat obtusely angular, large, 2.7-6.2 by 2.8-6.1 cm, initially covered by a membranous sheath, internodes crowded near the apex. Leaves petiolate; petiole 2-13 cm long, 0.7-1.2 cm wide when flattened; blade elliptic-lanceolate, 23-74 by 1.8-4.7 cm, apex acuminate. Inflorescences racemose, erect, to more than 75 cm long, slender; peduncle 35-75 cm long, 0.2-0.45 cm diam., velutinous; peduncle-scales 3-4; rachis shorter than peduncle, velutinous, many-flowered. Floral bracts small, cymbiform, ovate-lanceolate, 1.2-1.4 by 0.5 cm. Ovary pubescent. Flowers c. 4 cm diam. Median sepal ovate, 2-2.5 by 1.2 cm, outside puberulous, apex acute. Lateral sepals ovate or elliptic, 2-2.5 by 1-1.2 cm, outside puberulous, slightly keeled, apex subacute. Petals elliptic, 2.2 by 1.2-1.3 cm, apex subacute to obtuse. Lip 3-lobed, 2 by c. 2.5 cm wide between tips of lateral lobes when flattened; callus large, bilobed, 0.17-0.27 cm tall, 0.23-0.54 cm wide, lobes dorsally flat, triangular in outline, densely hairy at base and apex; lateral lobes obliquely linear-spathulate, 1.1 cm long, 0.5 cm wide, making an angle of 90 degrees with the mid-lobe; mid-lobe with narrow claw, without knee-like swelling, on either side of the callus with a large triangular lobule; terminal blade broadly obcordate. Column strongly curved, dilated at apex, rostellum triangular. Anther obcordate. (After Howcroft, 1992).

Colours:Flower pale pink to purple, with white, yellow or orange on the lip, callus white or yellow, with or without orange spots. Floral bracts dark maroon to grey.

Note: May be recognised by the small, short-lived floral bracts.

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