长爪石斛 chang zhao shi hu

Dendrobium longicalcaratum Hayata; D. randaiense Hayata; Pedilonum longicalcaratum (Hayata) Rauschert.

Stems pendulous, to 60 cm, thicker from base, multibranched, each branch ca. 15 cm, with many nodes, internodes obconic-cylindric, ca. 1 cm, ca. 5 mm in diam. Leaves lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 3-3.5 × 0.6-1.5(or more) cm, base contracted and enlarged into sheaths, apex acuminate or sometimes unequally bilobed; leaf sheath tightly embracing stem. Inflorescences lateral on previous year’s leafless stems, 1-3 cm, 1-4-flowered; floral bracts ovate-triangular, ca. 6 × 5 mm, 3-veined, acute. Pedicel and ovary ca. 1.5 cm. Flowers pale green, turning white, tinged with purple or with green veins. Dorsal sepal oblong, 15-18 × 7-8(or more) mm, apex subacute; lateral sepals obliquely ovate-oblong, nearly as long as dorsal sepal, base oblique and relatively wide; mentum tubular, ca. 15 mm, 4-6 mm wide, obtuse. Petals obliquely oblong, 14-17 × ca. 5 mm, apex obtuse; lip narrowly pandurate, spatulate, ca. 33 × 6-7(or more) mm, narrowly clawed, connate to mentum at base, with 2 fleshy papillae in front of claw. Column ca. 3 mm, foot to 18 mm; anther cap subglobose.

Epiphytic on tree trunks in mountain forests, lithophytic on rocky cliffs in mountain valleys; 500-1200 m. Taiwan [Philippines].