Acanthephippium Blume
in Bijdragen tot de Flora van Nederlandsch Indie (1825) 353
Introduction: Terrestrial herbs with about 15 species distributed from India, Ceylon and southern China through tropical Asia to some Pacific Islands as far as Fiji. The genus is allied to Phaius, Calanthe and Spathoglottis, which are also represented in New Guinea.
Author and derivation of genus name: Carl Blume published the name in 1825 as Acanthophippium and changed it in 1828 to Acanthephippium from the Greek akantha (thorn) and ephippion (saddle), probably referring to the shape of the blade of the lip which has 2 parallel toothed crests which resemble a saddle.
Type species:Acanthephippium splendidum J.J.Sm. (syn. A. javanicum Blume, A. vitiensis L.O. Wms.).
Characteristics of genus: The genus is quite uniquely distinct and easily recognized by its large urn shaped flowers.
Number of sections and/or subsections in genus: n/a
Number of species in New Guinea: Three species occur in New Guinea:
A terrestrial plant up to 80 cm tall; rhizomes short; pseudobulbs thick, fleshy, oblong, cylindrical, somewhat bottle shaped, up to 25 cm tall and 5 cm in diameter, with 2 - 3 leaves at apex. Leaves plicate, lanceolate, up to 65 cm long by 15 cm wide. Inflorescence produced laterally from pseudobulb, shorter than leaves, erect, bearing 3 - 6 flowers subtended by large glabrous bracts. Flowers large, erect, glabrous, 3.5 - 4.5 cm long, urceolate; lateral sepal to ca.. 3.5 cm long joined, broad at base and forming a broad mentum; petals obliquely ovate, obtuse to about 3.3 cm long; labellum trilobed, curved, articulate with column foot, flattened 1.6 cm long by 1.6 cm wide; lateral lobes oblong-quadrate, margins incurved; midlobe obovate; carina (keels) 5, middle 3 extending towards basal part of midlobe; column stout with distinct foot. Pollinia 8.
Flower colour white and yellow with red stripes. Petals white. Labellum white with red markings and a yellow midlobe. the column is white with a yellow foot with red stripes and spots.
Habitat: This species is found throughout New Guinea and in Bougainville, the Solomons and Vanuatu (LEWIS & CRIBB 1989). It was at one time very common in the Araucaria cunninghamii plantations at Bulolo in the Morobe Province.
Conservation status: Much of its natural habitat has been destroyed by shifting agriculture and wild fires and it is now harder to find near the township areas and to find plants one must either visit McAdam National Park or go further afield to the undisturbed natural forests. It requires protection over parts of its natural range as its habitats are often destroyed for gardening and subsequently the sites are often converted to grasslands.
Acanthephippium Blume