Dipodium

(pronounced: dye-POH-dee-um)

Classification

Cymbidieae subtribe Eulophiinae

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Overview

Monopodial terrestrials or (hemi-)epiphytes. Stems of two kinds by species, short without leaves or elongate and vining with leaves. Leaves absent or alternate, distichous. Inflorescences pedunculate loosely-flowered racemes, terminal in terrestrial species without leaves, axillary in (hemi-)epiphytic species with leaves, the floral bracts inconspicuous. Flowers open, usually spotted. Sepals and petals subsimilar, subequal, free, spreading, oblong-oblanceolate. Lip three-lobed, the lateral lobes small, the midlobe larger, pubescent, the callus one or two low basal keels. Column straight, without wings or foot; pollinia 2, each on a slender caudicle, attached to a common minute viscidium.

Etymology

From the Greek di, meaning double, and podion, meaning a little foot, referring to the two short stipes of the pollinarium.

Distribution

A genus of about 20 species ranging from Thailand to Vanuatu with a concentration of species in Australia and New Guinea.

Care and Culture Card

See basic growing conditions and care information below.


Literature

Adams, P. B. 1986. Dipodium punctatum (Smith) R. Br., alba form in East Gippsland. Orchadian 8(8):169-172.

Ames, O. 1932. A new genus of the Orchidaceae from the New Hebrids. J. Arn. Arb. 13:142-144.

Ames, O. 1936. A generic synonym. Bot. Mus. Leafl. 4(3):36-38.

Bates, R. 2000. The dipodiums of South Australia and Victoria. Orchadian 13(6):261-266.

Bernhardt, P. and P. Burns-Balogh 1983. Pollination and pollinarium of Dipodium punctatum (Sm.) R. Br. Vict. Nat. 100(5):197-199.

Clements, M. H. 1979. The genus Dipodium R. Br. in Australia. Orchadian 6(4):75-77..

Jones, D. L. 1996. Dipodium pardalinum, a new species from Victoria and South Australia. Orchadian 12(2):56-57.
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