Orchids of New Guinea

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Didymoplexis pallens

Didymoplexis pallens Griff., Calcutta J. Nat. Hist. 4 (1844) (383), fig. 17(b):1-8

Type: Griffith s.n. (India, Calcutta, Serampore) (holo CAL)

Synonyms:

Epiphanes pallens (Griff.) Rchb.f. in Seem., Fl. Vitiensis (1868) 296
Gastrodia pallens (Griff.) F.Muell., Contr. Phytog. New Hebrides (1873) 22
Arethusa bengalensis Hort. ex Hemsl., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 20 (1883) 311
- Type: not designated
Arethusa ecristata Griff., Not. Pl. Asiat. 3 (1851) 378; Icon. Pl. Asiat. pl. 343
- Type: Griffith s.n. (Afghanistan)
Apetalon minutum Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Or. 5 (1851) 22, t. 1758
- Type: Jerdon s.n. (Sultan's Battery, Coorg) (holo K)
Cheirostylis kanarensis Blatt. & McCann, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 35 (1932) 732, figs
- Type: Bell s.n. (India, Bombay Pres., N. Kanara, Tatwal)
Leucorchis sylvatica Blume, Mus. Bot. Lugd. Bat. 1 (1849) 31
- Type: Blume? (Harriang, Bantam Prov.) (holo L?)

Leafless terrestrial. Flowering stem to c. 20 tall, up to 20-flowered, but only one or two flowers open at a time. Median sepal 1.2 cm long, concave. Lateral sepals connate in basal half, rounded. Petals connate to the median sepal for about 0.3 cm, the free parts 0.4 cm long, 0.55 cm wide. Lip entire, with erect side-margins which just clasp the column, in front truncate with rounded corners, 0.7 by 1.3 cm. Column strongly curved, c. 0.6 cm long. (After Comber, 2001).

Colours:

Stem pale brown. Flower pure white with a yellow spot on the front margin.

Habitat:

Terrestrial in forest.

Distribution:

Malesia (Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, ?New Guinea, The Philippines), India, Australia, Vanuatu.

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua New Guinea. See map

Cultivation:

Terrestrial, probably parasitic on fungi and probably impossible to grow under normal conditions.

Flowering time in the wild:

Not known

Classification:

Family Orchidaceae
Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Gastrodieae
Genus Didymoplexis
Species Didymoplexis pallens

Literature:

Smith, J.J., Icon. Bogor. 2 (1903) 5, t. 101B
Smith, J.J., Orchid. Java (1905) 77
Smith, J.J., Orchid. Java, Fig.-Atl. (1908) fig. 51
Dockrill, A. W., Austral. Indig. Orchids 1 (1969) 218, fig.
Wood, J.J., Orchadian 7 (1982) 143
Comber, J.B., Orchids of Sumatra (2001) 112

Notes:

Didymoplexis pallens Griff. differs from the other two New Guinea species of Didymoplexis in the lip being much broader than long (when flattened).