Dendrobium litorale
Dendrobium litorale Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 567; 21 (1923) t. 190, fig. 714.
Type: Schlechter 19214; 19958 (B, lost; AD, G, L, NSW, S).
Synonyms:
- Aporum litorale (Schltr.) Rauschert, Feddes Repert. 94 (1983) 440.
- Aporopsis litorale (Schltr.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones, Orchadian 13 (2002) 485
Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, erect, slender, 2 to 4 internodes above the base usually swollen, 4-6-angled, up to 60 cm long, many-leaved in basal half, slightly flattened, bare in upper half. Leaves bilaterally flattened, obliquely linear, 4.5-6 by 0.3-0.4 cm, apex acute, coriaceous. Inflorescences lateral from the bare upper part of the stems, 1-flowered, fasciculate, with the flowers appearing in succession. Floral bracts ovate, minute, much shorter than the pedicel and ovary, apex apiculate. Pedicel and ovary 1.2 cm long, slender, glabrous. Flowers resupinated, 1.5 cm long, thin-textured. Dorsal sepal ovate, 0.55 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, much widened at the base, 0.55 cm long, apex obtuse; mentum oblongoid, 1 cm long, slightly curved. Petals obliquely oblong-ligulate, 0.55 cm long, apex obtuse. Lip 3-lobed in apical fourth, 1.3 by 1 cm, basal part ligulate-cuneate, broadly cuneate above the middle, with three close weak ribs extending from the base of the lip to the base of the midlobe; lateral lobes semirhombic, obtuse; midlobe semiquadrate, deeply bipartite, much surpassing the lateral lobes. Column short, clinandrium weakly 3-lobulate; column-foot linear-ligulate, 1 cm long, concave. Anther rounded-cucullate, in front truncate and papillose.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Flowers pale yellow with red veins.
Epiphyte in lowland and beach forest. Altitude 10-15 m.
New Guinea, Australia.
Papua New Guinea (widespread).
Warm growing epiphyte, prefers light position.
April, July.
- O'Byrne, P. 1994. Lowland Orchids of Papua New Guinea: 308, fig., pl.
Closely related to, and perhaps referable to Dendrobium macfarlanei. See under that species for a discussion.
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Dendrobium litorale
Dendrobium litorale Schltr., flower, oblique front view, photo Jon Cara, based on Jon Cara cult. s.n., from Papua New Guinea I
Dendrobium litorale
Dendrobium litorale Schltr., plant habit, photo Jon Cara, based on Jon Cara cult. s.n., from Papua New Guinea I
Dendrobium litorale
Dendrobium litorale Schltr., stem with flower, photo Jon Cara, based on Jon Cara cult. s.n., from Papua New Guinea I
Dendrobium litorale
Dendrobium litorale Schltr., stem with flower, photo Jon Cara, based on Jon Cara cult. s.n., from Papua New Guinea I
Dendrobium litorale
Dendrobium litorale Schltr., flower, front view, photo Jon Cara, based on Jon Cara cult. s.n., from Papua New Guinea I
Dendrobium litorale
Dendrobium litorale Schltr., flower, oblique lateral view, photo Jon Cara, based on Jon Cara cult. s.n., from Papua New Guinea I
Dendrobium litorale
Dendrobium litorale Schltr., flower, lateral view, photo Jon Cara, based on Jon Cara cult. s.n., from Papua New Guinea I
Dendrobium litorale
Dendrobium litorale Schltr., plant in situ, photo Jon Cara, based on Jon Cara cult. s.n., from Papua New Guinea I
Dendrobium litorale
Dendrobium litorale Schltr., flower, photo P. O'Byrne, based on O'Byrne D540
Dendrobium litorale
Dendrobium litorale Schltr., flower, photo D. Titmuss, based on E. Zielkajis cult.
Dendrobium litorale
Dendrobium litorale Schltr., drawing R. Schlechter in Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1923) t. 190, fig. 714