Chiloschista phyllorhiza

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White starfish orchid
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Chiloschista
Species:
C. phyllorhiza
Binomial name
Chiloschista phyllorhiza
Synonyms [1]

Chiloschista phyllorhiza, commonly known as the white starfish orchid, [2] is a species of leafless epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that forms small clumps with many radiating, flattened green roots. A large number of short-lived, crystalline white, star-shaped flowers with a yellow labellum are arranged along thin, arching flowering stems. It occurs in northern parts of Australia where it grows in rainforest, swamps and near streams.

Contents

Description

Chiloschista phyllorhiza is an epiphytic or lithophytic, leafless herb that forms small clumps with many flattened greenish, photosynthetic roots 100–200 millimetres (3.9–7.9 in) long and 6–10 millimetres (0.24–0.39 in) wide radiating from inconspicuous stems. There is a large number of crystalline white resupinate flowers 10–14 millimetres (0.39–0.55 in) long and wide arranged along a thin, arching flowering stem 50–150 millimetres (2.0–5.9 in) long. The sepals and petals are egg-shaped, 4–6 millimetres (0.16–0.24 in) long, 3–4 millimetres (0.12–0.16 in) wide and spread widely apart from each other. The labellum is yellow, about 2.5 millimetres (0.098 in) long with three lobes. The side lobes are erect and the middle lobe is small and densely hairy. Flowering occurs from November to February but the flowers open sporadically in groups and only last for one or two days. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

The white starfish orchid was first formally described in 1866 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name Sarcochilus phyllorhizus and published the description in Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae . [4] [5] In 1921, Rudolf Schlechter changed the name to Chiloschista phyllorhiza. [6] The specific epithet (phyllorhiza) is derived from the Ancient Greek words phyllon meaning "leaf" [7] :605 and rhiza meaning "root". [7] :666

Distribution and habitat

The white starfish orchid grows on trees near the edge of rainforest, on sheltered ridges, in swamps and near streams. It is found in the north of the Northern Territory, on some Torres Strait Islands and on Cape York Peninsula as far south as the Tully River. [2] [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Chiloschista</i> Genus of orchids

Chiloschista, commonly known as starfish orchids and abbreviated Chsch., is a genus of usually leafless, epiphytic or lithophytic orchids found in India, Southeast Asia and Australia.

<i>Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii</i> Species of orchid

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<i>Bulbophyllum baileyi</i> Species of orchid from Australia and New Guinea

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<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.

Bulbophyllum minutissimum, commonly known as the red bead orchid or grain-of-wheat orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with small, flattened, reddish or green pseudobulbs, scale-like leaves and small whitish to reddish flowers with broad dar red stripes. It grows on trees and rocks, mostly in swamps and near streams in eastern Australia.

<i>Peristeranthus</i> Genus of orchids

Peristeranthus hillii, commonly known as the beetle orchid or brown fairy-chain orchid is the only species in the genus Peristeranthus from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with more or less pendulous stems, between three and ten widely spaced, leathery leaves and a large number of pale green, often spotted flowers. It mainly grows on tree trunks and thick vines in rainforest and is found between the Bloomfield River in Queensland and Port Macquarie in New South Wales.

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

Dendrobium moorei, commonly known as the drooping cane orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Lord Howe Island. It has cylindrical pseudobulbs, leathery, dark green leaves and between two and fifteen small, white drooping flowers that do not open widely.

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

Dendrobium baileyi, commonly known as the blotched gemini orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae and has arching stems and flowering stems with one or two spidery, yellow flowers with dark purple spots emerging from leaf axis. It grows in tropical North Queensland, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

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 taylorii</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium taylorii, commonly known as the smooth burr orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to tropical North Queensland, Australia. It has a single leathery, dark green leaf on a cylindrical stem and one or two small white flowers. Unlike other burr orchids, this species is insect-pollinated. It grows in rainforest, mangroves and sheltered forests.

<i>Plectorrhiza brevilabris</i> Species of orchid

Plectorrhiza brevilabris, commonly known as the small tangle orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid endemic to Australia. It has many coarse, wiry roots, between three and nine bright green leaves and up to twenty green, star-shaped flowers with reddish brown markings and a white patch on the labellum. It grows in rainforest on trees, shrubs and occasionally on rocks and occurs on the near coastal ranges of eastern Queensland.

<i>Pomatocalpa macphersonii</i> Species of orchid

Pomatocalpa macphersonii, commonly known as the blotched bladder orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with thick, cord-like roots, between two and eight dark green, leathery leaves and up to thirty cup-shaped, yellow flowers with red blotches and a white labellum with red blotches. It usually grows on rainforest trees and is found in New Guinea and tropical North Queensland, Australia.

Saccolabiopsis armitii, commonly known as the spotted pitcher orchid, is an epiphytic orchid from the family Orchidaceae. It has a short stem, coarse, wiry roots, between three and six crowded, curved leaves and up to fifty yellowish green flowers with red markings and a white labellum. It usually grows in coastal scrub to rainforest in New Guinea and tropical North Queensland, Australia.

<i>Sarcochilus ceciliae</i> Species of orchid

Sarcochilus ceciliae, commonly known as fairy bells, is a lithophytic orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has up to ten channelled, spotted linear leaves and up to twenty pink flowers with a hairy labellum.

Sarcochilus dilatatus, commonly known as the brown butterfly orchid, is a small epiphytic orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has up to twelve, thin, leathery, dark green leaves and up to twelve brown or reddish brown flowers with a mostly white and yellow labellum.

<i>Sarcochilus hartmannii</i> Species of orchid

Sarcochilus hartmannii, commonly known as the large boulder orchid', ravine orchid, Hartmann's sarcochilus or cliff orchid, is a lithophytic orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It forms spreading clumps with between four and ten thick, channelled leaves and up to twenty five white flowers with crimson spots near the centre.

<i>Sarcochilus hillii</i> Species of orchid

Sarcochilus hillii, commonly known as myrtle bells, is a small epiphytic orchid native to eastern Australia and New Caledonia. It has up to ten drooping, quill-shaped leaves and up to ten frosty white or pink flowers that have a hairy labellum with purple stripes.

<i>Taeniophyllum lobatum</i> Species of orchid

Taeniophyllum lobatum, commonly known as the yellow ribbonroot, is a species of leafless epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that forms small clumps. It has short stems, flattened pale to greyish green roots pressed against the substrate on which it is growing and usually two pale to bright yellow flowers. It only occurs in tropical North Queensland.

Thrixspermum platystachys, commonly known as the starry hairseed, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that forms untidy clumps with many tangled, wiry roots, up to ten stiff, leathery leaves and many star-shaped, cream-coloured flowers with an orange and white labellum. This orchid occurs from Papuasia to northern Queensland.

<i>Chiloschista segawae</i> Species of orchid

Chiloschista segawae is a species of leafless epiphytic or orchid that forms clumps with many radiating, flattened green roots. Up to fifteen, whitish green or yellow flowers are arranged along a pendulous flowering stem. It grows on trees in forest on Taiwan.

References

  1. 1 2 "Chiloschista phyllorhiza". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  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. 435. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 "Chiloschista phyllorhiza". Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  4. "Sarcochilus phyllorhizus". APNI. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  5. von Mueller, Ferdinand (1866). Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. Vol. v.5 1865-66. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. pp. 201–202. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  6. "Chiloschista phyllorhiza". APNI. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  7. 1 2 Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.