Synonyms
None
Origin in the Wild
Sumatra
Elevation in the Wild
2600 – 2700 metres
Habitat in the Wild
This species has been recorded as growing in Aceh Province in the Mount Leuser Nature Reserve at camp 6 on Mount Bandahara. De Wilde’s field notes state that it was an epiphyte on a mossy tree stump.
The Plants Description
The rhizomes branch and have a creeping habit. The pseudobulbs are spaced c1.2cm apart. The pseudobulbs are shaped ovate-fusiform. The pseudobulbs measure 1.5-2.2cm long and 0.6cm in diameter. The cataphylls that surround the immature pseudobulbs disintegrate into persistent fibres as the pseudobulbs mature. The leaves are petiolate, the petiole measures 0.6cm long. The leaf blades are shaped lanceolate and have acute to acuminate apices. The leaf blades measure 8-11.5cm long and 1.8cm wide.
The Inflorescence
The inflorescence is synanthous and grows with the new growth. The peduncle is shorter than the rachis, the peduncle only measures c6cm long compared to an overall inflorescence length of 22cm. The flowers are spaced c4mm apart.
The Flowers
Approximately 40 flowers are recorded growing on an inflorescence. The flower colour is pale creamy salmon. The dorsal sepal is shaped lanceolate and has an acuminate to acute apex. The dorsal sepal measures 7.85mm long and 2mm wide. The lateral sepals are shaped narrowly triangular and have acute apices. The lateral sepals measure 8.57mm long and 1.86mm wide. The petals are shaped sublinear and have acute apices. The petals measure 6.3mm long and 1.28mm wide. The labellum is entire although there is a distinct difference between the epichile and hypochile. The labellum is shaped lanceolate and has an acute apex. The labellum measures 3.92mm long and 1.67mm wide. There are 3 keels that grow from the base of the hypochile, the 2 lateral keels are shorter and slightly curve. The column is 2.7mm long; the column has a very short column foot. The apical hood has a truncate apex and irregular dentate margins. The stelidia grow from the middle of the column and just reach the apical hood. The stelidia are shaped linear and are unequally bilobed at their apices.
Herbarium Specimens
Holotype
National Herbarium Netherlands, Leiden (L)
Isotype
Kew Botanical Gardens (K)
Scent
I could find no record
Flowering Season
Flowering plants have been collected in the wild during June
Culture
I do not think this species is in cultivation
Similar Species
Dendrochilum duplicibracium
Other Information
Jim Comber wrote that this species is similar to Dendrochilum duplicibracium but differs by its larger ovate-fusiform shaped pseudobulbs, narrower leaves with short petioles and a labellum with an acute apex.
Reference –
COMBER, J.B. Orchids of Sumatra, 2001, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 18 November 2008. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.kew.org/wcsp/ accessed 18 November 2008.