Dendrobium rupicoloides

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Northern 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. rupicoloides
Binomial name
Dendrobium rupicoloides
Synonyms [1]

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

Dendrobium rupicoloides, commonly known as the northern rock orchid, [2] 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.

Contents

Description

Dendrobium rupicoloides is a lithophytic herb with spreading roots and cylindrical green to reddish pseudobulbs 150–240 mm (6–9 in) long and 30–40 mm (1–2 in) wide. Each pseudobulb has up to three thick, leathery, dark green leaves originating from its top, the leaves 100–180 mm (4–7 in) long and 40–80 mm (2–3 in) wide. Between thirty and fifty white flowers 30–35 mm (1.2–1.4 in) long and 20–25 mm (0.79–0.98 in) wide are arranged on a flowering stem 300–550 mm (10–20 in) long. The dorsal sepal is oblong, 18–24 mm (0.71–0.94 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 16–20 mm (0.63–0.79 in) long, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide, strongly curved and spread apart from each other. The petals are linear to oblong, 18–23 mm (0.71–0.91 in) long, about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide and curved. The labellum is white or cream-coloured with purple markings, 9–11 mm (0.35–0.43 in) long and 9–10 mm (0.35–0.39 in) wide with three lobes. The sides lobes are crescent moon-shaped and the middle lobe is short with an orange ridge along its midline. Flowering occurs between October and December. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

The northern 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 near Blencoe Falls. It was given the name Thelychiton rupicola and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research. [3] [4] In 2014, Julian Shaw changed the name to Dendrobium rupicoloides because the name Dendrobium rupicola was already given to a different orchid. [5] The specific epithet (rupicola) given by Jones and Brown is derived from the Latin rupes meaning "rock", [6] :673 and -cola meaning "dweller" or "inhabitant", [6] :217 referring to the lithophytic habit of this orchid. [3] The ending -oides means "like" or "resembling". [6] :483

Distribution and habitat

Dendrobium rupicoloides grows on boulders and cliffs in areas near the Mount Windsor and Atherton Tablelands and possibly as far south as Sarina. [2] [3]

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

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<i>Dendrobium adae</i>

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<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

Dendrobium finniganense, commonly known as the Mount Finnigan cane orchid, is a species of terrestrial or lithophytic orchid endemic to a few mountain tops in far north Queensland, Australia. It has narrow, cylindrical pseudobulbs, each with up to three thin, dark green leaves and usually only one or two white to cream-coloured flowers with yellow and purple markings near the centre.

<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.

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 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 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 crassum, commonly known as the tableland feather orchid, is a species of epiphytic orchid that is endemic to tropical North Queensland. It has cylindrical, dark reddish brown pseudobulbs, up to three thick, leathery leaves and up to ten white flowers with purplish markings 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 rupicoloides". 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. 411–412. 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): 40–41.
  4. "Thelychiton rupicola". APNI. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  5. "Dendrobium rupicoloides". APNI. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.