Cyanicula ixioides

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White china orchid
Cyanicula ixioides subsp. ixioides (8481323903).jpg
Cyanicula ixioides growing near Wundowie
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Cyanicula
Species:
C. ixioides
Binomial name
Cyanicula ixioides
Synonyms [1]
  • Caladenia gemmata var. ixioides(Lindl.) Ewart & Jean White
  • Caladenia ixioidesLindl.
  • Cyanicula ixioidesPaczk. & A.R.Chapm. nom. inval.
  • Pentisea ixioides(Lindl.) Szlach.

Cyanicula ixioides, commonly known as the white china orchid, [2] is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, broad, flattened leaf and up to three yellow or white flowers. It mostly only occurs in woodlands and forest near Perth.

Contents

Description

Cyanicula ixioides is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber. It has a single flattened leaf, 20–40 mm (0.8–2 in) long, 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) wide and reddish-purple underneath. Up to three white or yellow flowers 30–50 mm (1–2 in) long and wide are borne on a stalk 40–150 mm (2–6 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is erect, 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) long and 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) wide. The lateral sepals and petals have about the same dimensions as the dorsal sepal. The labellum is 5–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long, 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide, pale yellow or white with purple stripes. The sides of the labellum have short teeth, the tip curves downwards and there are many rows of short bead-like calli covering the labellum. Flowering occurs from September to October. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

White china orchid was first formally described in 1840 by John Lindley who gave it the name Caladenia ixioides in A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony . [5] In 2000, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown transferred the species to Cyanicula as C. ixioides. [6] The specific epithet (ixioides) means " Ixia -like", referring to the flower shape. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Cyanicula ixioides is mostly found between York and Bindoon in the Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest and Swan Coastal Plain biogeographic regions, growing in forest and woodland under wandoo and jarrah. [2] [3] [4] [7]

Conservation

Cyanicula ixioides is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [7]

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<i>Caladenia longicauda <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> merrittii</i> Subspecies of orchid

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<i>Caladenia longiclavata</i> Species of orchid

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<i>Caladenia occidentalis</i> Species of orchid

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<i>Caladenia reptans <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> reptans</i> Subspecies of orchid

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<i>Caladenia rhomboidiformis</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia rhomboidiformis, commonly known as the diamond spider orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, hairy leaf and one or two green, yellow and red flowers. Until 1971 It was known as a variety of the green comb spider orchid Caladenia dilatata then, until 1989 as a variety of the clubbed spider orchid, Caladenia longiclavata.

<i>Caladenia xantha</i> Species of orchid

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<i>Elythranthera brunonis</i> Species of orchid

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<i>Cyanicula gemmata</i> Species of orchid

Cyanicula gemmata, commonly known as the blue china orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a small, oval leaf and up to three intense blue to mauve flowers. It is the most common and widespread of the West Australian china orchids, sometimes appearing in large numbers after summer fires.

Cyanicula gertrudae, commonly known as the pale china orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a small, oval leaf and one or two pale blue, sweetly-scented flowers. It is similar to Caladenia gemmata but its leaf is green on both surfaces, the flower is scented and the labellum is striped.

<i>Cyanicula sericea</i> Species of orchid endemic to Australia

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Cyanicula nikulinskyae, commonly known as Philippa's china orchid, granite china orchid and Esperance china orchid is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is very similar to Caladenia gemmata but has slightly smaller flowers with taller calli. It has a single broad, flattened leaf and up to two pale blue flowers and occurs near Esperance.

References

  1. 1 2 "Cyanicula ixioides". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 14 October 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. 30. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 3 Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 190. ISBN   9780980296457.
  4. 1 2 Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. pp. 201–202. ISBN   9780646562322.
  5. "Caladenia ixioides". APNI. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  6. "Cyanicula ixioides". APNI. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Cyanicula ixioides". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.