Dendrochilum rigidifolium J.J.Sm. 1920 SUBGENUS Platyclinis SECTION Platyclinis
Plant and Flowers in situ Sumatra
Drawing Photos by J B Comber/Th. Nordhausen/Drawing by © J J Smith and The Swiss Orchid foundation at the Jany Renz Herbaria
Common Name The Rigid Leaved Dendrochilum
Flower Size .64" [1.65 cm]
Found in north Sumatra at elevations around 1550 to 2250 meters as a miniature sized, cool to cold epiphyte with a creeping rhizome giving rise to erect, .6" [1.5 cm] between each, thickly ovoid, elliptic in cross-section pseudobulb carrying a single, apical, erect, linear, narrowing apically, obtuse, gradually narrowing below into the petiolate base leaf that blooms in the spring on an erect, arising before the leaves have properly formed, longer than the leaf, peduncle elliptic in cross-section, to 10" [25 cm] long, rachis to 6" [15 cm] long, quadrangular in cross-section, flowers from the base to the apex, many flowered inflorescence.
Comber stated that this species can also be a lithophyte growing on rocks in full sun. The narrow leaves and the erect inflorescence are quite distinctive.
Synonyms
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchids of Sumatra J B Comber 2001 photo fide;
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