Porpax jerdoniana (Wight) Rolfe
In Orchid Rev. 16: 8 (1908)
-
Eria jerdoniana (Wight) Rchb.f. in W.G.Walpers, Ann. Bot. Syst. 6: 267 (1861)
-
Lichenora jerdoniana Wight in Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 5: t. 1738 (1851)
-
Pinalia jerdoniana (Wight) Kuntze in Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 679 (1891)
-
Cryptochilus wightii Rchb.f. in Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 20: 214 (1862)
-
Eria lichenora Lindl. in J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 3: 46 (1858)
-
Porpax lichenora (Lindl.) T.Cooke in Fl. Bombay 2: 689 (1907)
Ecology Epiphytic orchid found growing commonly on bark of Terminalia billirica, tree in moist evergreen forests
Pesudobulbs forming groups covering bark where there is seepage of water in rainy season
Pseudobulbs 10x5cm discoidal with reticulation of white veins on surface
Stem sheathed and very short
Cataphylls 2 sub oblong ovate, translucent white, semi amplexicaul – amplexicaul, acuminate
Leaves 2 appearing with flowers opposite shathing at the base dark green turning yellowish brown at maturity oblong – orbicular, retuse or mucronate, ciliolate
Mid nerve depressed above prominent below, lateral ones whitish beautifully tesseled on background younger leaves are green with whitish veins while mature leaves are yellowish brown
Flowers 2-3 in the centre of the leaves , dirty orange brown pedicellate , pedicel white tiny 2-3x1mm, bracteate, bract abou3x5mm transversely obliquely- orbicular, membranous, translucent, sparely gland dotted, ciliolate
Sepals unequal glabrous, deep redish brown inside, fleshy deeply setulose , dirty brown outside with thick margin
Dorsal sepal7x5mm, broadly obovate oblong, almost orbicular, obtuse, 3 nerved, concave , forming upper lip of flower, fused with lower lip at with lower lip
Lateral sepals are fused to form lower lip of flower which 9x5mm concave, connate at the base along the foot of the column forming small globular sac
Petals 5x2mm, light yellowish orange, parallel, narrowly linear- oblong,sinuately curved, dilated at the obtuse apex, entire, three nerved, minutely papillate
Labellum minute 3x1mm, subarcuate, somewhat mobile on column foot, minutely clawed, shallowly lobed, yellowish orange, sides erect, limb very obscurely pandurate- oblong, 1.5mm broad, apical part minutely papillate, with small obtuse apiculum which is also minutely papillate
Column minute, pale yellowish, foot 2-3mm, long, slightly curved & upturned apex,
Anther 1x1.5mm, broadly orbicular with a minute apiculum,
Pollinia 8 waxy, pyriform all equal
Stigmatic surface ovate
Ovary short, pedicellate densely setulose, 3mm long
Capsules globose ribbed pedicel elongated in capsule
Flowering June July Fruiting July
Threat: Mining in major threat