Mediocalcar paradoxum (Kraenzl.) Schltr. 1910 SECTION Eu-Mediocalcar Photo courtesy of André Schuiteman, Dr. E.F. de Vogel and Jaap Vermeulen and Their Netherlands National Herbarium Website

Full Shade Hot

Common Name or Meaning The Paradoxical Mediocalcar

Flower Size 1/4" [.65cm]

Found in the Moluccas, Sulawesi, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz Islands, Fiji, Samoa, the Caroline Islands and Vanuatu in lowland to montane scub and forests as a miniature sized, hot growing epiphyte at elevations of sealevel to 700 meters with a creeping rhizome carrying obliquely ovoid-conical pseudobulbs partially enveloped by 2 loose, twisted scarious sheaths and carrying 1 to rarely 2, apical, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, acute leaves that blooms on a 1 to 2 flowered inflorescence arising on a new growth.

Synonyms Cryptochilus bicolor (J.J.Sm.) J.J.Sm. 1903; *Eria paradoxa Kraenzl. 1898; Eria tunensis Kraenzl. 1911; Mediocalcar conicum J.J.Sm. 1912; Mediocalcar ericiflorum Schltr. 1922; Mediocalcar kaniense Schltr. 1911; Mediocalcar latifolium Schltr. 1911; Mediocalcar paradoxum subsp. latifolium (Schltr.) Schuit. 1997; Mediocalcar paradoxum subsp. paradoxum; Mediocalcar paradoxum subsp. robustum (Schltr.) Schuit. 1997; Mediocalcar ponapense Schltr. 1921; Mediocalcar selebicum J.J.Sm. 1933; Mediocalcar stenopetalum Schltr. 1911; Mediocalcar ternatense J.J.Sm. 1927

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchidaceae of German New Guinea Schlechter 1914/1985; Orchids of Vanuatu Lewis & Cribb 1989; The Orchids of Samoa Cribb & Whistler 1996;

Mediocalcar paradoxum subsp. latifolium (Schltr.) Schuit. 1997

Flower Closeup Photos courtesy of Dr. E.F. de Vogel and Jaap Vermeulen and Their Netherlands National Herbarium Website. and Flora Malesiana Vol IV

Differs from the type with it's broader elliptic, bluish green leave and short fat, keeled pseudobulbs and found only in Papua New Guinea.

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Lindleyana Vol 17 No 1 2002; Flora Malesiana Orchids of New Guinea Vol IV Shuiteman and de Vogel 2006