Accepted name: Dendrochilum trilobum (Ridl.) Ames, J. Straits Branch Roy. Asiat. Soc., Spec. No.: 149 (1921)

Subgenus – Platyclinis?. Section – Cruciformia?


 

Synonyms

 

Platyclinis triloba Ridl., Sarawak Mus. J. 1(2): 35 (1912).

 

Origin in the Wild

 

Sarawak

 

Elevation in the Wild

 

1150 metres

 

Habitat in the Wild

 

This species was collected on Mount Penrissen in the Kuching district of Sarawak.

 

The Plants Description

 

I have copied Jeffrey Woods reproduced copy of Ridley’s description.

 

Pseudobulbs approximate, cylindrical conical, one inch long, covered with large lanceolate acute sheaths. Leaves lanceolate, linear, narrowed at both ends, 10 inches long by ¼ inch wide or smaller, narrowed gradually into the petiole which is hardly distinct. Raceme with the leaf very slender, about 8 inches, flowers very small, rather distant. Bracts 1/12 inch long, lanceolate, acute. Flowers 1/8 inch across. Sepals lanceolate, acute. Petals smaller. Lip 3-lobed, base with two thick raised ridges or wings, limb 3-lobed, broader than long, side lobes oblong, rounded, mid-lobe narrow, linear, acute. A dark coloured spot at each side of the base of the side lobes. Column tall, stelidia from the base, large, linear, obtuse, petaloid, Margin of clinandrium ovate, longer than the anther.

 

Culture

 

I do not think this species is in cultivation

 

Similar Species

 

Dendrochilum gibbsiae

 

Additional Comments

 

This species is thought to have similarities to Dendrochilum gibbsiae. The holotype for this species can not be located and until it can be examined this species will continue to be considered an incompletely known taxon but separate from Dendrochilum gibbsiae.

 

Henrik Pedersen wrote in 2007 that Jeffrey Wood recommended that Dendrochilum trilobum be considered a separate species. The authors of the Orchids of Sarawak thought it likely that Dendrochilum trilobum is conspecific with Dendrochilum gibbsiae. If the type is found and confirmed this Dendrochilum trilobum’s name would have priority over Dendrochilum gibbsiae.

 

Reference –

 

 

BEAMAN, Teofila, WOOD, Jeffrey, BEAMAN, Reed, BEAMAN, John. 2001, Orchids of Sarawak, Natural History Publications Borneo, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

 

PEDERSEN, Henrik. 2007. Changes to Dendrochilum, 2007, The Orchid Review, Vol 115 p220-226

 

WOOD, Jeffrey. Dendrochilum of Borneo, 2001. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Malaysia.

 

World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 30 August 2008. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.kew.org/wcsp/ accessed 30 August 2008.