This drawing is by Trey Sanders and is of Schlechters original. |
Synonyms
None
Origin in the Wild
Sumatra
Elevation in the Wild
Unknown
Habitat in the Wild
I could find no record of this species habitat. Jim Comber wrote that this species was collected in Sumatra but the description was made from a plant in cultivation at the Berlin Botanical Gardens (Comber 2001).
The Plants Description
The rhizomes can measure up to 30cm long. The pseudobulbs are shaped cylindrical and are narrowed at their apices. The pseudobulbs measure 2.5cm long and 3mm in diameter. The leaf blades are shaped narrowly lanceolate and have somewhat obtuse apices. The leaf blades measure 10-11cm long and 0.8-1.0cm wide. The leaves are coriaceous.
The Inflorescence
The inflorescence measures 9cm long. The inflorescence is heteranthus and emerges from the base of matured pseudobulbs and is heteranthus.
The Flowers
The flowers are pale yellow. The flowers are one of the smallest in subgenus Dendrochilum. The flower opens widely. The dorsal sepal is shaped narrowly oblong and has a subacute apex. The dorsal sepal measures 3mm long. The dorsal sepal is one veined and has an entire margin. The lateral sepals are shaped falcate. The petals are falcate, strap-shaped and have acute apices. The labellum is entire and curved. The labellum measures 1.5mm long. The labellum is narrowed at its centre, its apical part is wider than its basal part, and its apex is rounded. Two keels emerge from the base to the centre of the labellum. The column is curved and has an acuminate apical hood. The stelidia are shaped falcate and grow upwards from the column apex. The stelidia nearly reach the column apex.
Herbarium Specimens
Holotype
I could not locate the holotype
Other herbarium specimens
AMES
Specimen 98790 (drawing of the type)
Scent
I could find no record.
Flowering Season
Schlechter collected his flowering specimen in cultivation during October.
Culture
I do not think this species is in cultivation.
Similar Species
Dendrochilum pallidiflavens
Dendrochilum wichersii (see this page for the differences)
Other Information
Schlechter said that the short labellum is distinctive but did not suggest any other species to which this may be related.
Reference -
COMBER, J.B. Orchids of Sumatra, 2001, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
SCHLECHTER, R. 1910, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 8: 562
World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 24 August 2008. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.kew.org/wcsp/ accessed 24 August 2008.