!Macodes petola [Bl.] Lindl. 1840

Flower Closeup Photo courtesy of Dot Potter Barnett

Plant Photo courtesy of Jay Pfahl

Flower from Iriomote Island in Japan

Leaf from Iriomote Island in Japan Photos by © Natsui

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Common Name The Petiole Macodes

Flower Size 2/5" [1 cm]

The flower photos have been Ided as Macodes petola var javanicum according to the Cincinnati judging center of the AOS.

Found from Borneo, Java, Malaysia, Sumatra, the Phillipines and the Iriomote Islands of Japan in lowland and lower montane forests at elevations of 100 to 1500 meters as an evergreen, small sized, warm to hot growing terrestrial with a fleshy creeping rhizome carrying to 8, spiralling in a loose whorl, elliptic to ovate, acute, fleshy, hairy appearing as velvet, dark bottle green with 5 longitudinal and many reticulate veins of gold leaves that are purple green underneath and having a clasped at the base, grooved petiole. The plant blooms with small, insignificant, non-resupinate flowers on an erect, terminal, to 8" [to 20 cm] long, inflorescence.

In Java a juice is made from the plant and then dripped into the eyes with the thought to increase proficiency in the art of writing.

Synonyms Anoectochilus petola (Blume) Hereman 1868; Anoectochilus veitchianus Blume 1859; Argyrorchis javanica Blume 1859; Haemaria argyroneura Miq. 1864; Macodes argyroneura (Miq.) Rolfe 1896; Macodes javanica (Blume) Hook.f. 1889; Macodes petola var argenteo-reticulata J.J.Sm. 1905; Macodes petola var robusta J.J.Sm. 1905; Macodes robusta J.J.Sm. 1921; *Neottia petola Bl 1825; Rhomboda confusa Ormerod 1995; Spiranthes petola (Blume) Hassk. 1844

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Xenia Orchidaceae Rchb.f 1854 drawing fide; Die Orchideen Von Java J.J.Smith 1905; ASO Bulletin Vol 28 No 4 1958=9; AOS Bulletin Vol 47 No 6 1978; Orchidiana Philipiniana Vol 1 Valmayor 1984; Orchids of Java Comber 1990; AOS Bulletin No 63 No 11 1994 photo; A Checklist of the Orchids of Borneo Wood & Cribb 1994; Orchids of Sumatra Comber 2001; Flora Malesiana Orchids of the Philippines Vol I Agoo, Shuiteman and de Vogel 2003; Orchids of Vietnam, Illustrated survey, part 1 Averyanov 2008; AOS Bulletin Vol 78 No 1 2009 photo

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