Bryobium eriaeoides

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Brittle urchin orchid
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Bryobium
Species:
B. eriaeoides
Binomial name
Bryobium eriaeoides
Synonyms [1]

Bryobium eriaeoides, commonly known as brittle urchin orchid, [2] is an epiphytic or lithophytic clump-forming orchid that has fleshy, green pseudobulbs, each with two leaves and between three and twelve cup-shaped white to purplish flowers but that sometimes remain closed. This orchid occurs in New Guinea and Queensland.

Contents

Description

Bryobium eriaeoides is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb that forms large clumps with cylindrical pseudobulbs 60–100 millimetres (2.4–3.9 in) long and 10–14 millimetres (0.39–0.55 in) wide covered with papery white bracts when young. Each pseudobulb has a thin elliptic to lance-shaped leaf 150–200 millimetres (5.9–7.9 in) long and 20–30 millimetres (0.79–1.2 in) wide. Between three and twelve cup-shaped, resupinate white to purplish flowers 4 millimetres (0.16 in) long and 3 millimetres (0.12 in) wide are arranged on a flowering stem 30–50 millimetres (1.2–2.0 in) long. The flowers are self-pollinating and open only slowly or not at all. The sepal and petals are about 3 millimetres (0.12 in) long and 2 millimetres (0.079 in) wide. The labellum is about 4 millimetres (0.16 in) long and wide with three lobes. The side lobes are erect and the middle lobe triangular with three ridges. Flowering occurs from August to October. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

The brittle urchin orchid was first formally described in 1888 by Frederick Manson Bailey who gave it the name Dendrobium eriaeoides and published the description in A Synopsis of the Queensland Flora. [1] [5] In 2002 Mark Clements and David Jones changed the name to Bryobium eriaeoides. [6] The specific epithet (eriaeoides) refers to the similarity of this species to those in the genus Eria . The ending -oides is a Latin suffix meaning "like", "resembling" or "having the form of". [7]

Distribution and habitat

Bryobium eriaeoides grows on trees and rocks in humid situations. It is found in New Guinea and Queensland from the Iron Range to near Townsville. [2] [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Bryobium</i> Genus of orchids

Bryobium, commonly known as urchin orchids or 藓兰属 , is a genus of flowering plants in the family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus are epiphytic or lithophytic plants with large, fleshy pseudobulbs, each with up to three leathery leaves and small, often hairy flowers. These orchids are found from tropical Asia to northern Australia.

<i>Dendrobium bigibbum</i> Species of orchid from Australia and New Guinea

Dendrobium bigibbum, commonly known as the Cooktown orchid or mauve butterfly orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has cylindrical pseudobulbs, each with between three and five green or purplish leaves and arching flowering stems with up to twenty, usually lilac-purple flowers. It occurs in tropical North Queensland, Australia and New Guinea.

<i>Dendrobium jonesii</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium jonesii, commonly known as the oak orchid is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid endemic to far north Queensland. It has spindle-shaped pseudobulbs, up to seven thin, dark green leaves and up to thirty five crowded, star-like, fragrant cream-coloured or white flowers with purple markings on the labellum.

<i>Dendrobium johannis</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium johannis, commonly known as the chocolate tea tree orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid native to Australia and New Guinea. It has spindle-shaped pseudobulbs, between five and ten dark green leaves with purplish markings and flowering stems with up to fifteen chocolate brown flowers with a yellow labellum.

Dendrobium fellowsii, commonly known as the native damsel orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae and has upright pseudobulbs, up to five leaves and groups of up to five pale green or yellowish flowers with a deep purple labellum. It grows in tropical North Queensland.

<i>Dendrobium bifalce</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium bifalce, commonly known as the native bee orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has spindle-shaped pseudobulbs with up to four leathery leaves and up to ten pale green or greenish yellow flowers with purplish markings. It grows on trees and boulders in rainforest in tropical North Queensland, Australia and in New Guinea.

<i>Dendrobium canaliculatum</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium canaliculatum, commonly known as the brown tea tree orchid or thin tea tree orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has cone-shaped or onion-shaped pseudobulbs, up to six deeply channelled, dark green leaves and up to thirty star-shaped, light brown to caramel-coloured white or greenish to apricot-coloured flowers with darker tips. It grows in tropical North Queensland and New Guinea.

<i>Dendrobium carronii</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium carronii, commonly known as the pink tea tree orchid, is a small epiphytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has cone-shaped or onion-shaped pseudobulbs, between two and four channelled, green to purplish leaves and up to twelve star-shaped, pink flowers with dark brown and purple markings. It grows in tropical North Queensland and New Guinea.

<i>Dendrobium fleckeri</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium fleckeri, commonly known as the apricot cane orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid endemic to far north Queensland, Australia. It has cylindrical pseudobulbs with two or three dark green leaves and up to four apricot-coloured or yellowish green flowers with tangled white hairs on the edge of the labellum.

<i>Dendrobium mirbelianum</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium mirbelianum, commonly known as the dark-stemmed antler orchid or mangrove orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has cylindrical, dark-coloured pseudobulbs with leathery, dark green leaves and up to twelve pale to dark brown flowers with a yellow labellum with dark red veins. This antler orchid occurs in northern Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia.

<i>Dendrobium nindii</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium nindii, commonly known as the blue antler orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has erect, cylindrical, leafy pseudobulbs with leathery, dark green leaves and up to twenty mauve or violet flowers with darker veins on the labellum. This antler orchid occurs in tropical North Queensland and New Guinea.

Dendrobium clementsii, commonly known as the Cape York crimp orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that is endemic to tropical North Queensland, Australia. It has long stems, tapering pseudobulbs each with a thin, leathery dark green leaf and clusters of short-lived, cream-coloured flowers with a purple labellum.

Dendrobium crassum, commonly known as the tableland feather orchid, is a species of epiphytic orchid that is endemic to tropical North Queensland. It has cylindrical, dark reddish brown pseudobulbs, up to three thick, leathery leaves and up to ten white flowers with purplish markings on the labellum.

Dendrobium deuteroeburneum, commonly known as the rainforest feather orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. Its pseudobulbs are cylindrical, pressed against the host tree or rock and have one or two leathery, dark green leaves and up to seven pale greenish cream-coloured flowers with purple markings on the labellum.

Dendrobium radiatum, commonly known as the brushbox feather orchid, is a species of epiphytic orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has cylindrical pseudobulbs, up to three leathery, dark green leaves and up to eleven white flowers with purplish markings on the labellum.

<i>Thrixspermum congestum</i> Species of orchid

Thrixspermum congestum, commonly known as the cupped hairseed, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that forms small clumps with many thin roots, up to fifteen leathery leaves and many star-shaped white or cream-coloured flowers. This orchid occurs from Papuasia to northern Australia.

Bryobium dischorense, commonly known as the spotted urchin orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic clump-forming orchid that has fleshy, oval pseudobulbs, each with a single thin leaf and between four and eight cup-shaped, cream-coloured or whitish flowers with red spots. This orchid occurs in New Guinea and Queensland.

Bryobium irukandjianum, commonly known as small urchin orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic clump-forming orchid that has small, fleshy green pseudobulbs, each with two or three leaves and between seven and twelve small, short-lived, whitish to dull pink flowers. This orchid only occurs in tropical North Queensland.

<i>Bryobium queenslandicum</i> Species of orchid

Bryobium queenslandicum, commonly known as the dingy urchin orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic clump-forming orchid that has cylindrical, fleshy green pseudobulbs, each with two leaves and between three and twelve small, self-pollinating, cream-coloured or pinkish flowers. This orchid only occurs in tropical North Queensland.

Bryobium retusum, commonly known as Christmas Island urchin orchid, is an epiphytic clump-forming orchid that has oval, fleshy green pseudobulbs, each with two leaves and between seven and twelve short-lived, self-pollinating, pale green, hairy flowers. This orchid is found between Java and New Caledonia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bryobium eriaeoides". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 462. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 D.L.Jones; T.Hopley; S.M.Duffy (2010). "Factsheet - Bryobium eriaeoides". Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids . Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government . Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  4. "Bryobium eriaeoides". Orchids of New Guinea. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  5. "Dendrobium eriaeoides". APNI. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  6. "Bryobium eriaeoides". APNI. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  7. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 483.