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| Dendrobium eruciforme Schuit., Saputra & Wanma, in Schuiteman, Saputra, Wanma, Jennings et Heatubun, 2025. |
Summary
Dendrobium eruciforme Schuit., Saputra & Wanma (Orchidaceae), the fourth known species of sect. Microphytanthe Schltr., is described and illustrated. A detailed description, morphological comparisons, habitat information, a preliminary conservation assessment and some notes are provided. A key to the four species of sect. Microphytanthe is presented. Vegetatively, D. eruciforme is one of the smallest Dendrobium species, in this respect only equalled or even surpassed by the Australian D. toressae (F.M.Bailey) Dockrill.
Key Words: Arfak Mountains, Dendrobium nummularia, key, New Guinea, Papua Barat, Red Listing
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| Dendrobium eruciforme. A habit; B flowering shoot; C leaf; D dorsal sepal; E lateral sepal; F petal; G lip; H column and ovary (lateral view); J anther, dorsal view; K anther, ventral view; L pollinia. drawn by André Schuiteman. |
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| Dendrobium eruciforme. A flowering plant; B plant in situ; C habitat. photos: André Schuiteman. |
Dendrobium eruciforme Schuit., Saputra & Wanma, sp. nov.
(sect. Microphytanthe).
Type: Indonesia, West Papua Province, ...
Recognition. Within sect. Microphytanthe, this species resembles Dendrobium nummularia, because of the congested pseudobulbs, the tiny leaves and the habit of growing appressed to the substrate. Dendrobium eruciforme differs in the verruculose leaves, 3 – 5.6 mm long, with unequally bilobulate apices (vs leaves when dry with prominent reticulate veins [fide Schlechter], 4 – 8 mm long, apex apiculate in D. nummularia); papillose ovary (vs glabrous ovary); lip with cross-ridge below the middle, apex rounded (vs lip without cross-ridge, apex bilobulate); lip surface velutinous (vs lip glabrous with ciliate lobules).
Etymology. From the Latin eruca, a caterpillar, and -formis, shaped as, referring to the straight, creeping rhizomes that are closely appressed to the substrate.
André Schuiteman, Reza Saputra, Jimmy Frans Wanma, Laura Jennings and Charlie D. Heatubun. 2025. Dendrobium eruciforme (Orchidaceae), A New Species of Section Microphytanthe from West Papua Province, Indonesia. Kew Bulletin. DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s12225-025-10281-0 [13 June 2025]