The orchid has now flowered (and subsequently produced seed – more of this later.) and photographed for the first time. The photos were released for publication in Orchids Australia v.10 no.5 – October 1998. Needless to say we were very proud to have been chosen to bring this historic find to the orchid community. So proud we featured it on the cover of that issue!

A complete report on this amazing discovery will be published in an upcoming issue of Lasianthera, the scientific orchid journal of Papua New Guinea. (Due to be published half-yearly and available on subscription from the NCBG, PO Box 7270, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea.)

The following is an extract of the original description for Dendrobium biloculare J.J. Sm.
In Rec. Trav. Bot. Neerl. 1:148 (1904)
Type: New Guinea, Zippel (hototype L!)
A medium sized, ?pendulous, epiphytic herb. Pseudobulbs clustered, sub-clavate, 8 – 26 x 1cm dull yellow, 2-leaved at apex. Leaves relatively thin-textured, elliptic-ovate, acute or acuminate, 14 x 4.5 cm. Inflorescences up to 15cm long, few-flowered; peduncle slender, wiry, bracts narrowly elliptic, acute, 6mm long.

Flowers medium-sized. Dorsal sepal ovate, acute, 1.35 x 0.7 cm; lateral sepals obliquely ovate, acute, mentum broadly conical, 5-6mm long. Petals elliptic-lanceolate, acute, 14 x 3.5mm. Lip 3-lobed, 1.4 x 1.5cm; side lobes erect, lamost as large as mid-lobe, elliptic, rounded in front; mid-lobe transversely oblong-reinform, apiculate; callus fleshy, with apex free for 2.5mm and 2-lobed. Column 1.5mm long, with 2 hook-like apical stelidia, foot 5-6mm long.

Distribution: West New Guinea only.

Philip Cribb added in the 1983 Kew Bulletin:
"This species is allied to Dendrobium convolutum but is readily distinguished by its large side-lobes which overlap the mid-lobe when the lip is flattened and by its bilobed callus which is free at the apex. It has not been recollected since its original discovery."

The NCBG laboratory currently has seed germinating in its laboratory. They intend making legal supplies of PNG orchids available to the orchid community in a couple of years. Their laboratory is only just up and running.

Photos and line drawing by Phil Spence, NCBG, Port Moresby.

Thanks
My sincere thanks to Justin Tkatchenko and Phil Spence for their cooperation and hosting my visit to Papua New Guinea. (August 1998)