Acanthephippium sp. aff. eburneum Kraenzl. 1896 Borneo

Flower Closeup Photos courtesy of Peter Maxwell.

Common Name The Ivory White Acanthephippium

Flower Size 2.4" [6 cm]

Found in Sarawak Borneo as a large sized, warm to cool growing terrestrial orchid with ovoid to fusiform, 4 to 6 noded pseudobulbs enveloped by persistent sheaths becoming fibers and carrying a few plicate, elliptic to broadly elliptic, acute to apiculate, 5 veined dorsally, gradually narrowing below into the petiolate base leaves that blooms in the summer on a lateral, on the basal node of a new growth, 5.2" [13 cm] long, few flowered inflorescence with 2 to 3 sterile bracts and cymbiform, ovate-lanceolate, acute, foliaceous floral bracts carrying fleshy flowers. I can not be absolutely sure of the ID on this one. It was photographed in Borneo but the photo in Orchids of Borneo Wood, Shim & Lamb Vol 3 1997 is at a different angle than these and the lip is not visible as it is in these two. Location; white, pubescent pedicels; seapl and petal colors, column all agree to reference photo.

Synonyms Acanthephippium lycaste Ridl. 1912

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchids of Borneo Wood, Shim & Lamb Vol 3 1997