Calochilus holtzei

Last updated

Ghostly beard orchid
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Calochilus
Species:
C. holtzei
Binomial name
Calochilus holtzei

Calochilus holtzei, commonly known as the ghostly beard orchid, [2] is a species of orchid endemic to northwestern Australia. It has a single leaf and up to twenty pale green to yellowish flowers with red markings and a labellum with a greenish "beard".

Contents

Description

Calochilus holtzei is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single leaf which is fully developed at flowering time, 300–550 mm (10–20 in) long, 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) wide and triangular in cross section. Between eight and twenty pale green to yellowish flowers with red markings, 20–23 mm (0.8–0.9 in) long and 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 500–900 mm (20–40 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) wide. The lateral sepals are a similar length but narrower. The petals are 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long and about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide. The labellum curves downwards and is 14–17 mm (0.6–0.7 in) long and 9–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide. The base of the labellum has purple calli and two purple plates. The middle section has bristly, greenish white hairs up to 5 mm (0.2 in) long and there is a narrow tip about 3 mm (0.1 in) long. Flowering occurs from December to March but each flower only lasts two or three days. [2]

Taxonomy and naming

Calochilus holtzei was first formally described in 1892 by Ferdinand von Mueller and the description was published in The Victorian Naturalist from specimens collected near Port Darwin by Maurice William Holtze. [3] [4] The specific epithet (holtzei) honours the collector of the type specimen. [4]

Distribution and habitat

The ghostly beard orchid grows with grasses in forest and woodland in the northern Kimberley region of Western Australia and on Melville Island in the Northern Territory. [2] [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Bulbophyllum elisae</i> Species of orchid

Bulbophyllum elisae, commonly known as the pineapple orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has crowded, wrinkled, pale green or yellowish clump-forming pseudobulbs, stiff, pale green to yellowish leaves and between three and twelve pale green to dark green flowers with a dark red to purple labellum. It usually grows in the tops of rainforest trees, on cliff faces or boulders.

<i>Calochilus robertsonii</i> Species of orchid

Calochilus robertsonii, commonly known as the purple beard orchid or purplish beard orchid, is a species of orchid native to Australia and New Zealand. It has a single dark green leaf and up to nine green to brown flowers with reddish or purplish stripes. The labellum has a glossy purple, mauve, or bronze-coloured beard with a ridge between the "eye" spots.

<i>Calochilus paludosus</i> Species of orchid

Calochilus paludosus, commonly known as the red beard orchid or red beardie, is a species of orchid native to Australia and New Zealand. It has a single fleshy, light green leaf and up to nine greenish flowers with reddish stripes. The labellum has a dull red or coppery coloured beard and lacks the "eye" spots of other beard orchids.

<i>Calochilus russeus</i> Species of orchid

Calochilus russeus, commonly known as the reddish beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. It has a single thick, dark green leaf and up to twelve greenish flowers with red stripes and a hairy labellum which is the largest part of the flower. It is a rare orchid, growing as isolated individuals near Ebor.

<i>Calochilus stramenicola</i> Species of orchid

Calochilus stramenicola, commonly known as the wandoo beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Western Australia. It has a single smooth, erect leaf and up to seven dull greenish flowers with reddish brown or purplish stripes. The labellum has a purplish beard with a ridge between two "eye" spots.

<i>Calochilus therophilus</i> Species of orchid

Calochilus therophilus, commonly known as the late beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single channelled, dark green leaf with a reddish base and up to fifteen dull greenish flowers with bold red stripes. The labellum has a dark purplish beard with two "eye" spots. Unlike that of other beard orchids, there is no prominent ridge between the eye spots.

<i>Calochilus montanus</i> Species of orchid

Calochilus therophilus, commonly known as the mountain beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. It has a single fleshy, channelled, dark green leaf and up to fifteen green flowers with reddish lines. The labellum has two shiny metallic blue to purple plates near its base and there is no ridge between the two "eyes" on the column.

<i>Calochilus caeruleus</i> Species of orchid

Calochilus caeruleus, commonly known as the wiry beard orchid, is a species of orchid native to northern Australia and New Guinea. It has a single leaf which continues to develop during flowering and up to twelve greenish flowers with reddish brown markings and a labellum with a red "beard".

<i>Calochilus herbaceus</i> Species of orchid

Calochilus herbaceus, commonly known as the pale beard orchid, is a species of orchid native to south-eastern Australia and northern New Zealand. It has a single very short, rigid, fleshy leaf and up to eight pale green to brownish flowers with reddish stripes and a purple "beard".

Calochilus ammobius, commonly known as the sand beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Queensland. It has a single leaf which is not present during flowering and up to three dull green flowers with reddish brown streaks and a labellum with a purple "beard".

Calochilus caesius, commonly known as the blue beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the Northern Territory in Australia. It has a single leaf which is not present during flowering and up to five pale green, very short-lived flowers with a bluish-red "beard".

Calochilus imperiosus, commonly known as the imperial beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to northern Australia. It has a single leaf and up to fifteen dull green flowers with red or purple markings and a labellum with a pinkish red "beard".

Calochilus metallicus, commonly known as the metallic beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Tropical Queensland. It has a single dark green leaf and up to four pale green flowers with a pinkish or reddish "beard" on the labellum.

Calochilus praealtus, commonly known as the lofty beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. It has a single pale green leaf and up to six pale green flowers with faint red stripes and a labellum with a dark purple beard. It is only known from two mountainous areas.

Calochilus psednus, commonly known as the Cardwell beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Queensland. It has up to three bluish green flowers with reddish brown lines and a labellum with a purplish "beard". The plant is leafless when flowering. It is only known from a small area near Cardwell.

Calochilus pulchellus, commonly known as the pretty beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south coast of New South Wales. It has a single dark green leaf with a dark red base and up to five pale green to greenish yellow flowers with red striations and a labellum with a coppery red "beard". Fewer than thirty plants growing in three sites are known.

Calochilus richae, commonly known as the bald-tip beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to a small area in Victoria. It is a rare species, discovered in 1928 but not seen again until 1968 and its numbers are in decline. It has a single dark green leaf and up to five reddish brown flowers with darker stripes and a labellum with short, spiky, purplish "hairs".

Calochilus sandrae, commonly known as the brownish beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the higher parts of southern New South Wales. It has a single greenish brown leaf with a reddish base and up to five brownish green flowers with red striations and a labellum with a brownish purple "beard".

Calochilus uliginosus, commonly known as the swamp beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Western Australia. It has a single dark green leaf with a reddish purple base and up to seven greenish to brownish flowers with red lines and a labellum with a reddish purple beard.

<i>Eulophia venosa</i> Species of orchid

Eulophia venosa, commonly known as the pointed corduroy orchid, is a plant in the orchid family and is native to India, parts of Southeast Asia as well as New Guinea and northern Australia. It is a deciduous, terrestrial orchid with one large and one small leaf and between six and twenty pale green or yellowish flowers with purple markings. It grows in rainforest and grassy forests.

References

  1. "Calochilus holtzei". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  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. pp. 264–265. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. "Calochilus holtzei". APNI. Retrieved 26 June 2018.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  4. 1 2 von Mueller, Ferdinand (1892). "Descriptions of new Australian plants, with occasional other annotations". The Victorian Naturalist. 8 (11): 180. Retrieved 2 July 2018.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  5. "Calochilus holtzei". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.