Flora of New Zealand Series

Dendrobium pygmaeum Smith in Rees Cyclop.  11,  1808,  n. 27.

Bulbophyllum ichthyostomum Col. in T.N.Z.I.  26,  1894,  319.

Original locality: "In Nova Zelandia". Type: ? Recorded also from Lord Howe Id.

Plant forming a spreading mat up to 10 cm. or more diam. Rhizomes threadlike, firmly fixed to substratum by ∞ roots of similar size; pseudobulbs c. 3–5 mm. diam., globose, rugose, becoming much wrinkled with age; lf arising from the top within a slightly prominent circular rim. Lf-lamina c. 4–10 × 2–4 mm., oblong-ovate to almost orbicular, obtuse, minutely scabrid adaxially, prominently keeled abaxially; petiole us. very short, sts = ½ lf-length. Fl. solitary; peduncle from base of pseudobulb, c. 2.5 mm. long at fl., elongating later; floral bract whitish, membr., campanulate; pedicel and ovary hairy. Per. 1.5–2 mm. long, white. Sepals minutely hairy, dorsal shorter than laterals. Petals broad, almost meeting behind column. Labellum ovate-oblong, obtuse, ± thickened, roofing over pouch formed by lateral sepals and column-foot. Column barely as long as its foot; wing not exceeding anther.

DIST.: N., S., St., more abundant in the north.

Epiphytic on forest trees, sts on high branches, occ. on rocks, especially near coast.

FL. 11–3.

B. ichthyostomum was described from "trunks of trees, forest Kumeroa, River Manawatu. County of Waipawa; May 1893: Mr H. Hill". The few open capsules had "marcescent" perianths, and the "glandular-echinate ovary and leaf" were mentioned as differentiating characters. Type: WELT 24264.

In B. pygmaeum the capsule is short and broad and strongly zygomorphic. Dehiscence is along 2 angles in such a way that the segment under the lateral sepals, which has 2 broad faces, separates from the rest which is marked by 3 longitudinal ridges.