Orchids of New Guinea

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Dendrobium pseudocalceolum

Dendrobium pseudocalceolum J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 5 (1907) 34; Icon. Bogor. 3 (1907) 97, t. 240.

Type: Berger, den s.n. (Nieuw Guinea, Geelvinckbaai) (holo BO; iso L, probable, no coll., no loc.).

Synonyms:

Aporum pseudocalceolum (J.J.Sm.) Rauschert, Feddes Repert. 94 (1983) 441.
Ceraia pseudocalceolum (J.J.Sm.) M.A.Clem., Telopea 10, 1 (2003) 292

Stems crowded, elongated, laterally compressed, much branched, pendulous, leafy, in apical part covered with scale-leaves only, 100-125 cm by 6 mm. Leaves suberect, strongly laterally compressed, lanceolate, 4.5-5.5 by 0.8-0.9 cm, carnose, apex sharply acute. Inflorescences laterally in fascicles from the leafless upper part of the stems. Pedicel 0.5 cm long; ovary 0.25 cm long. Flowers c. 1.2 cm long. Dorsal sepal 0.4 cm by 2.5 mm; mentum c. 0.37 cm long, obtuse. Petals 0.4 cm by 1.3 mm. Lip 3-lobed, when flattened 1.1 by 0.8 cm; midlobe 0.25 by 0.45 cm. Column 0.13 cm long; column-foot 0.35 cm long.
(after Smith, 1907).

Colours:

Flower white with red lines.

Habitat:

Epiphyte in lowland forest, growing in exposed positions, often along streams. Altitude 100 to 500 m.

Distribution:

New Guinea (endemic).

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua (Sorong, Jayapura, and Manokwari Regencies); Papua New Guinea (Western, Madang, Morobe, and Oro Provinces).

Cultivation:

Warm growing epiphyte, prefers light position.

Flowering time in the wild:

January-September.

Literature:

Schlechter, R. 1912. Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1: 569.
Smith, J.J. 1935. Nova Guinea 18, 1: 42.
O'Byrne, P. 1994. Lowland Orchids of Papua New Guinea: 310, fig. (as Dendrobium macfarlanei auct. non F.Muell.).

Notes:

Dendrobium pseudocalceolum is undoubtedly allied to Dendrobium macfarlanei of section Crumenata. It differs, however, in that the stems are not noticeably dilated at the base. This would seem to exclude D. pseudocalceolum from membership of sect. Crumenata, but it appears more natural to us to allow an exception here, and to include it in this section nevertheless.