Den. Sec. Calcarifera

J. J. Smith

Pronunciation:

kal-kar-IF-er-a
Tribe: Epidendreae
Subtribe: Dendrobiinae

Dendrobium Section Calcarifera was originally described by J. J. Smith in 1908 and reintroduced by J. B. Comber in 1983. Until recently, this section was largely included in section Pedilonum. Most of the mainland Asian species previously placed in the latter section are now placed in S. Calcarifera. Species in this section are medium sized epiphytes which occur from low to moderate elevations requiring warm to intermediate conditions in areas with year around rainfall. Characteristically, species in this section have fleshy stems or pseudobulbs, with leaves occurring in two ranks along the stems and are deciduous after a year or more. The flowers have a long, curved mentum and a more membranous lip that is moderately broad with a claw that narrows sharply at the base. The lip usually has some form of projection on the claw, but no keels or warts on the blade of the lip. The lip is more or less continuous with the base of the column foot which forms a short spur. The flowers occur singly or in short, pendulous inflorescences hanging laterally from the stems of both leafy and leafless stems.