Dendrobium striolatum

Streaked rock orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Genus:	Dendrobium
Species:	D. striolatum
Binomial name
Dendrobium striolatum Rchb.f. [1]
Synonyms [1]
List Callista striolata(Rchb.f.) Kuntze Dockrillia striolata(Rchb.f.) Rauschert Dendrobium milliganii F.Muell. Dendrobium striolatum var. beckleri F.M.Bailey Dendrobium teretifolium Lindl. nom. illeg. Dockrillia banksii D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. Dockrillia striolata subsp. banksii(D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. Dockrillia striolata subsp. chrysanthaD.L.Jones Dockrillia striolata subsp. milliganii(F.Muell.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. Dockrillia banksiiD.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Dendrobium striolatum, commonly known as streaked rock orchid ^[2] is a species of orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It is a small, usually lithophytic orchid with wiry stems, cylindrical leaves and flowering stems with one or two yellow, cream-coloured or greenish flowers with reddish stripes. It often grows on cliff faces in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.

Description

Dendrobium striolatum is a lithophytic orchid with upright or pendent stems and leaves. Its stems are wiry, often yellowish, up to 600 mm (20 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The leaves are linear and cylindrical, 40–120 mm (2–5 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.079–0.16 in) wide. The flowering stems are 10–35 mm (0.4–1 in) long and bear one or two flowers 12–16 mm (0.47–0.63 in) long and 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) wide. The sepals and petals yellow, cream-coloured or greenish and have reddish streaks on the backs and on their bases at the front. The sepals are 8–14 mm (0.31–0.55 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.12 in) wide and the petals are a similar length but only about 1 mm (0.039 in) wide. The labellum is 9–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long, 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and is strongly curved. The side lobes are short and blunt and the middle lobe has crinkled edges and three wavy ridges along its midline. Flowering occurs from September to November. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}

Taxonomy and naming

Dendrobium striolatum was first formally described in 1857 by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach and the description was published in Hamburg Garten-und Blumenzeitung. ^{[6] [7]} The specific epithet (striolatum) is a Latin word meaning "hollow out", "channel", "groove", "furrow" or "flute". ^[8]

Distribution and habitat

Streaked rock orchid grows on rocks, boulders and cliffs from the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, through eastern Victoria to Tasmania, including Cape Barren Island and Flinders Island. ^{[2] [4] [5]}

References

1. "Dendrobium striolatum". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
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. 389. ISBN   1877069124.
3. Robinson, Les (1991). Field guide to the native plants of Sydney. Kenthurst, N.S.W.: Kangaroo Press. p. 262. ISBN   0864171927.
4. "Dendrobium striolatum". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
5. Jeanes, Jeff. "Dendrobium striolatum". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
6. Reichenbach, Heinrich Gustav (1857). "Ueber einige Garten-Orchideen". Hamburg Garten-und Blumenzeitung. 13: 313. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
7. "Dendrobium striolatum". APNI. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
8. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 359.