The whole plant in-situ
Synonyms
None
Origin in the Wild
Luzon
Elevation in the Wild
1665-2010 metres
Habitat in the Wild
This species has been found on Luzon in Abra on Mount Bawagan, Ifugao Province at Bayinan near Banaue, Mount Himi-o, Mount Pimmage, Sumigar and in Kalinga-Apayao Province on Mount Pastan.
Dendrochilum cymbiforme is an epiphyte that is always found growing hanging down on the underside of branches and overhanging trunks in mossy forest.
The Plants Description
The pseudobulbs cluster on a short rhizome and are shaped obpyriform. The pseudobulbs measure c1.3cm long and c0.6cm in diameter. The pseudobulbs are covered with 2-6 cataphylls when they are growing; the cataphylls disintegrate into persistent fibres as the pseudobulbs mature. The leaves are petiolate; the petiole measures 3.6-5.8cm long. The leaf blades are shaped linear to narrowly linear-lanceolate and have acute apices. The leaf blades measure 15.5-22.7cm long and 1.2-1.9cm wide. The leaf blades are rigid and have five distinct nerves.
The Inflorescence
The inflorescence is synanthous. The peduncle is pendent and measures 16.8-23.0cm long. The rachis is pendent and measures 16.9-17.6cm long. The flowers alternate distichously and are spaced 2.0-3.0mm apart. The flowers open from the proximal section of the rachis.
The Flowers
The flowers have white sepals and petals with a reddish to pale brown labellum and column. The dorsal sepal is shaped oblong, somewhat cymbiform and partly cloaks the column. The dorsal sepal has an acuminate apex. The dorsal sepal measures 2.8-3.5mm long and 1.4-1.6mm wide. The dorsal sepal is three veined and has quite entire margins. The lateral sepals are porrect, shaped falcately oblong and have acuminate apices. The lateral sepals are slightly carinate towards their apices and the apices nearly touch each other in front of the labellum. The lateral sepals measure 3.8-4.4mm long and 1.8-1.9mm wide. The lateral sepals are three veined and have quite entire margins. The petals are spreading, shaped obliquely lanceolate and have acuminate apices. The petals measure 2.9-3.0mm long and 1.2-1.3mm wide. The petals are three veined and have quite entire margins. The labellum is easily versatile, porrect, cymbiform and entire. The labellum measures 4.0-4.2mm long and 3.2-3.4mm wide. The labellum is five veined and has a finely erose-serrate margin. The labellum is shaped broadly elliptic-orbicular (when flattened) and has an acuminate apex. There are no ornaments on the labellum. The column is erect, slightly incurved and measures 3.4-3.6mm long. The apical wing is prolonged into a truncate apex with an entire margin. The apical wing distinctly exceeds the anther cap. The column foot is prominent. The stelidia grow outwards from the base of the column and are small and hook-like. The stelidia are sometimes absent.
Herbarium Specimens
Lectotype
AMES
Specimen 18858 (photo)
Isotype
Royal Botanic gardens Kew (K)
I could not locate the specimen
US
Other herbarium specimens
National Herbarium Netherlands, Leiden (L)
Scent
I could find no record.
Flowering Season
Flowering plants have been collected during March and April and January or February.
Culture
I do not think this species is in cultivation
Similar Species
None
Other Information
Henrik Pedersen wrote that 'due to its extraordinary floral morphology, certainly takes up an isolated position in the section Platyclinis' (Pedersen 1997)
The epithet refers to the shape of the labellum. Cymbiform means boat shaped.
Reference -
COOTES, Jim. The Orchids of the Philippines, 2001. Timber Press, USA
PEDERSEN, Henrik. 1997, The Genus Dendrochilum (Orchidaceae) in the Philippines - A Taxonomic Revision. Opera Botanica, Denmark