Dendrobium kingianum

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Pink rock orchid
Dendrobium kingianum (flower).jpg
Dendrobium kingianum flower detail
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. kingianum
Binomial name
Dendrobium kingianum
Bidwill ex Lindl., 1844
Synonyms [1]
  • Callista kingiana(Bidwill ex Lindl.) Kuntze
  • Dendrocoryne kingianum(Bidwill ex Lindl.) Brieger in F.R.R.Schlechter
  • Tropilis kingiana(Bidwill ex Lindl.) Butzin
  • Thelychiton kingianus(Bidwill ex Lindl.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones

Dendrobium kingianum, commonly known as the pink rock orchid, [2] is a flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It usually grows on rocks, rarely as an epiphyte, and has thin, spreading leaves and spikes of up to fifteen, usually pink flowers in late winter to spring. It is popular in Australian native horticulture and is a commonly cultivated orchid among Australian orchid species growers.

Contents

Description

Dendrobium kingianum is usually a lithophyte but is occasionally an epiphytic or rarely a terrestrial plant. Within its natural range, it grows on boulders and in rock crevices in open forest or adjacent to forest creeks. It can also be found on cliff faces. It sometimes occurs as an individual plant but can also form large colonies several metres across. Spongy, white roots enable it to absorb water quickly from a wet rock surface whilst at other times, reflect light to avoid overheating during long dry spells. The stems or pseudobulbs may be erect or spreading but are always succulent, serving as a water storage organ during dry periods. The roots emerge from the thicker base end of the pseudobulb, which tapers towards the tip. The pseudobulbs are 5–30 cm (2–10 in) long and 1–2.5 cm (0.4–1 in) in diameter and have between three and six leaves near the tip. The leaves are thin, green and smooth, folded along the mid-line, narrow egg-shaped and 3–10 cm (1–4 in) long and 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) wide. [1] [3] [4] [5] [6]

The flowers are arranged on a raceme 7–15 cm (3–6 in) long, with between two and fifteen flowers. The sepals and petals are usually pink but may be pure white, dark purple or a range of intermediate colours. The dorsal sepal is 9–16 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long, 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide and the labellum is 8–15 mm (0.3–0.6 in) and 7–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide, usually with dark purple marks. Flowering mostly occurs from August to October (late winter to mid-spring in the southern hemisphere), but can occur earlier or later in response to climatic cues. [3] [4] [5]

D. kingianum flower labelled Dendrobium kingianum (labelled).jpg
D. kingianum flower labelled

Taxonomy and naming

Dendrobium kingianum was first formally described by John Bidwill and his manuscript was published in The Botanical Register , edited by John Lindley. [7] [8] In 2002, Mark Clements and David Jones proposed reassignment of Dendrobium kingianum to the genus Thelychiton (as Thelychiton kingianus). The reassignment has not yet been accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Time and further research will determine whether Thelychiton kingianus is formally recognised. [1] [9] The specific epithet (kingianum) honours Admiral Phillip Parker King, RN, an early explorer of Australia’s southern and western coast. [4] [10]

Distribution and habitat

Pink rock orchid occurs from the coast to nearby ranges between the Hunter River in New South Wales and Rockhampton in Queensland where it usually grows on rock in forest and woodland. [3] [4] [5]

Use in horticulture

Pink rock orchid is popular in Australian species orchid cultivation and is relatively easy to grow. It can successfully be grown on bark, fixed onto rock, or in a fast-draining medium of coarse bark and river pebbles. It grows best in a warm, sunny position and prefers relatively high humidity during its growing period of August to March. It is adapted to Australia’s dry east coast winters, and flowers best after a period of dry dormancy. It is available from specialist orchid nurseries but, like many Australian native plants, it is illegal to collect specimens growing in the wild. [4] [5] [9] [11]

Related Research Articles

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

Dendrobium speciosum, commonly known as the rock orchid or cane orchid, is a species of highly variable Australian orchid. Its varieties can be found in a range of habitats as epiphytes or lithophytes. It has a continuous distribution along the east coast of Australia and in distinct populations along the Tropic of Capricorn. As a lithophyte, it forms gigantic spreading colonies on rocks and cliff faces, often exposed to full sun, with its roots forming dense, matted beds across the rock that anchor the plant. It can be found at altitudes from sea level to 900 metres (3,000 ft).

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

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

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

Dendrobium discolor, commonly known as antler orchids, are epiphytic or lithophytic orchids in the family Orchidaceae. They have cylindrical pseudobulbs, each with between ten and thirty five leathery leaves, and flowering stems with up to forty mostly brownish or greenish flowers with wavy and twisted sepals and petals. Antler orchids occur in northern Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia and there are several subspecies and varieties.

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

Dendrobium gracilicaule, commonly known as the blotched cane orchid or yellow cane orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has cylindrical pseudobulbs, between three and seven thin leaves and up to thirty often drooping, cream-coloured to yellow or greenish flowers, sometimes with reddish brown blotches on the back. There are two varieties, one occurring in Queensland and New South Wales and the other on some Pacific Islands, including Lord Howe Island.

<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 tetragonum</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium tetragonum, commonly known as the tree spider orchid, is a variable species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid endemic to eastern Australia. Tree spider orchids are unusual in having pendulous pseudobulbs that are thin and wiry near the base then expand into a fleshy, four-sided upper section before tapering at the tip. There are only a few thin but leathery leaves at the end of the pseudobulbs and up to five flowers on relatively short flowering stems. To allow for the variations in the species there are five subspecies and a variety, some with a unique common name.

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

Dendrobium smillieae, commonly known as the bottlebrush orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with large, spongy pseudobulbs, thin, bright green leaves which are shed after their first year and crowded flowers in a bottlebrush-like arrangement. The flowers are white, to cream-coloured or pink and the labellum has a shiny, dark green tip. This orchid species is found in some of the Torres Strait Islands, and through Cape York Peninsula to Townsville, Queensland. It is also found in New Guinea and eastern Indonesia.

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

Dendrobium aemulum, commonly known as the ironbark feather orchid or white feather orchid, is an epiphytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae and grows on trees that retain their bark, especially ironbarks. It has reddish or purplish pseudobulbs, two to four leathery leaves and up to seven white, feathery flowers. It grows in open forest in Queensland and New South Wales.

Dendrobium macropus, commonly known as the Norfolk Island cane orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Norfolk Island. It has cylindrical pseudobulbs, thin, dark green leaves and between five and ten yellowish green flowers that do not open widely.

Dendrobium brachypus, commonly known as the dwarf cane orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has crowded, yellowish green pseudobulbs, dark green leaves and two or three cream-coloured to whitish or greenish flowers which often do not open fully. It grows on trees and rocks on one mountain on Norfolk Island.

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

Dendrobium adae, commonly known as the slender cane orchid, is an epiphytic, sometimes lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has cylindrical pseudobulbs, up to four dark green leaves and up to six white or greenish to apricot-coloured flowers. It grows in tropical North Queensland, Australia.

<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 macrostachyum</i> Species of plant

Dendrobium macrostachyum, commonly known as the fringed tree orchid, is a species of epiphytic orchid with long, narrow pseudobulbs that lose their leaves as they mature, and up to three whitish to lime green flowers with a hairy labellum. It is native to Australia, tropical Asia and eastern Malesia.

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 epiphyticum, commonly known as the Illawarra rock orchid, 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.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. ↑ Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 407. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 3 Weston, Peter. "Dendrobium kingianum". Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney: plantnet. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Newton, Jessica. "Thelychiton kingianus". Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Clements, Mark Alwyn. "Dendrobium kingianum". Australian National Botanic Gardens.
  6. ↑ "Botanica. The Illustrated AZ of over 10000 garden plants and how to cultivate them", pp. 295-296. Könemann, 2004. ISBN   3-8331-1253-0
  7. ↑ "Dendrobium kingianum". APNI. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  8. ↑ Lindley, John (ed.) (1844). Edward's Botanical Register. Piccadilly, London: James Ridgway and Sons Ltd. pp. 11–12. Retrieved 10 October 2016.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  9. 1 2 "Dendrobium kingianum". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  10. ↑ "King, Phillip Parker (1791–1856)". Australian Dictionary of Biography . 2. Melbourne University Press. 1967. ISSN   1833-7538 . Retrieved 26 October 2018– via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  11. ↑ Stephenson, Alan W. "Dendrobium kingianum". American Orchid Society. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
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