Saccoglossum Schlechter
in Feddes Repert. Beihefte. 1:683; 1914
DERIVATION OF GENUS NAME: In 1912 this very rare genus was established by Rudolf Schlechter for only two species. Schlechter took the name from the Greek sakkos (sac) and glossa tongue), emphasizing the sacciform lip. The genus is closely related to Bulbophyllum Thou. but the species have very different flowers with a sac-like labellum resembling those of the genus Pedilochilus Schltr.
TYPE SPECIES: Saccoglossum papuanum Schltr.
CHARACTERISTICS FO THE GENUS: These small, monopodial epiphytic herbs are only known from New Guinea. Vegetatively resembling Bulbophyllum with single leaves per pseudobulb. The flowers of the New Guinea species S. papuanum are white-yellow with pale brown petals, a white lip with red streaks inside the base, while the flowers of S. maculatum are white and the petals spotted with pink.
SPECIES LINE DRAWING:Saccoglossum sp.nov.
drawn by N.H.S. Howcroft (click link to view full size drawing)
KEY TO ILLUSTRATION:A: habit and inflorescence; B: inflorescence; C: flower, side view
Saccoglossum Schlechter