Dendrobium epiphyticum

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Illawarra rock orchid
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Dendrobieae
Genus: Dendrobium
Species:
D. epiphyticum
Binomial name
Dendrobium epiphyticum
Synonyms [1]

Thelychiton epiphyticus D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Dendrobium epiphyticum, commonly known as the Illawarra rock orchid, [2] is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that is endemic to New South Wales. It has tapered or cylindrical pseudobulbs, up to five thick, leathery leaves and up to fifty cream-coloured or pale yellow flowers with reddish purple markings on the labellum.

Contents

Description

Dendrobium epiphyticum is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb with spreading roots and cylindrical or tapering, green to yellowish pseudobulbs 50–150 mm (2–6 in) long and 25–40 mm (1–2 in) wide. Each pseudobulb has between three and five thick, leathery, dark green leaves originating from its top, the leaves 80–160 mm (3–6 in) long and 30–60 mm (1–2 in) wide. Between twenty and fifty cream-coloured or pale yellow flowers 30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 in) long and 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) wide are arranged on a flowering stem 250–450 mm (10–20 in) long. The dorsal sepal is oblong, 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 20–25 mm (0.79–0.98 in) long, about 5 mm (0.20 in) wide, strongly curved and spread widely apart from each other. The petals are linear to oblong, 22–30 mm (0.87–1.2 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and curved. The labellum is cream-coloured with reddish purple markings, 11–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 11–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide with three lobes. The sides lobes are erect and blunt and the middle lobe has a rounded tip. Flowering occurs between September and November. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

The Illawarra rock orchid was first formally described in 2006 by David Jones and Mark Clements from a plant grown in the Australian National Botanic Gardens from a specimen collected on the Cambewarra Mountain. It was given the name Thelychiton epiphyticus and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research. [3] [4] In 2014, Julian Shaw changed the name to Dendrobium epiphyticum. [5] The specific epithet (epiphyticum) is derived from the Ancient Greek words epi meaning "beside', "upon", "over" or "after", [6] :571 and phyton meaning "plant" [6] :613 referring to the epiphytic habit of this orchid. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Dendrobium epiphyticum grows on trees in moist forest and rainforest, sometimes on cliffs near waterfalls. It occurs in New South Wales between Robertson and Cambewarra. [2] [3]

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

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<i>Dendrobium adae</i>

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<i>Dendrobium schoeninum</i>

Dendrobium schoeninum, commonly known as the common pencil orchid, is an epiphytic or sometimes a lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae and has thin wiry, upright or pendent stems with fleshy, grooved, dark green leaves. Its short flowering stems have one or two, rarely up to four pale green, cream-coloured or mauve flowers with purple markings on the labellum. It grows on rainforest margins in coastal New South Wales and southern 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 finniganense</i> Species of orchid

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<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 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.

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

Dendrobium racemosum, commonly known as the erect pencil orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to tropical North Queensland. It is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with yellowish stems, cylindrical dark green leaves and flowering stems with between eight and fifteen cream-coloured to pale yellow flowers with a thread-like tip on the labellum. It grows on trees and rocks in exposed positions in highland areas and in the tops of rainforest trees at lower altitudes.

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 biconvexum, commonly known as the Mount Windsor rock orchid, is a species of lithophytic orchid that is endemic to tropical North Queensland, Australia. It has spindle-shaped pseudobulbs, between two and four thick, leathery leaves and up to seventy five white or cream-coloured flowers with purple markings on the labellum.

Dendrobium coriaceum, commonly known as the inland rock orchid, is a species of lithophytic orchid that is endemic to North Queensland. It has tapered pseudobulbs, up to three thick, leathery leaves and up to forty yellow or cream-coloured flowers with purple markings on the labellum.

Dendrobium rupicoloides, commonly known as the northern rock orchid, is a species of lithophytic orchid that is endemic to tropical North Queensland. It has tapered green to reddish pseudobulbs, up to three thick, leathery leaves and up to fifty white flowers with purple markings on the labellum.

Dendrobium neospectabile, commonly known as the Eungella king orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that is endemic to tropical North Queensland. It has cylindrical, yellowish green pseudobulbs, up to three thick, leathery leaves and up to two hundred and fifty crowded cream-coloured to pale yellow flowers with reddish purple streaks 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.

References

  1. 1 2 "Dendrobium epiphyticum". 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. 410–411. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Jones, David L.; Clements, Mark A.; Sharma, Ish (2006). "Towards a revision of the Thelychiton speciosus group". Australian Orchid Research. 5 (2): 39.
  4. "Thelychiton epiphyticus". APNI. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  5. "Dendrobium epiphyticum". APNI. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  6. 1 2 Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.