Apr-Jul: I'll be in the South Pacific.
PNG’s orchids
Papua New Guinea home to more than 10 percent of the world’s known languages: roughly 820 out of 6912 (ethnologue.com). PNG is also home to more than 10 percent of the world’s known orchid species: perhaps 3200 out of 30,000 (orchidspng.com).
Brian Hodgkin, who has until recently served as the director of our work in PNG, has a seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of the world’s plants — and in particular, orchids.
He has a spectacular collection of orchids growing in his yard, from the extravagant and aptly-named antelope orchid (Dendrobium crispilinguum) to tiny, leafless species that grow like green threads on guava trees.
Dendrobium polysema is common in this part of PNG.
Many of PNG’s orchids are epiphytic. These plants are tied to tree trunks in our front yard.
Liparis condylobulbon produces spikes of tiny green-and-orange flowers. Each flower is smaller than a grain of rice.
This too is an orchid: Mediocalcar decoratum.
categories papua new guinea
Comments
Comment from Corey Adams
Time: June 2, 2006, 9:43 am
Yah, the flowers and plants were beautiful over there. Happy 1st anniversary of going to PNG, David. June 2nd we all met in LAX for the first time before leaving on the Qantas 747 for New Zealand–Australia–PNG! Keep up the good work! God Bless.
Corey
Comment from Wilson
Time: June 3, 2006, 4:26 pm
Those are beautiful.
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