Dendrobium tetragonum

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Tree spider orchid
Dendrobium tetragonum Orchi 030.jpg
Dendrobium tetragonum var. tetragonum
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. tetragonum
Binomial name
Dendrobium tetragonum
Synonyms [1]
Synonyms

Dendrobium tetragonum, commonly known as the tree spider orchid, [2] 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.

Contents

Dendrobium tetragonum var. cacatua (yellow tree spider orchid) Dendrobium tetragonum fma. album A.Cunn. ex Lindl., Edwards's Bot. Reg. 25(Misc.)- 33 (1839) (sib. 'Matsushima' CHM-JOGA x 'MJ's' SM-JOGA) (39548969652) - cropped.jpg
Dendrobium tetragonum var. cacatua (yellow tree spider orchid)

Description

Dendrobium tetragonium is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb with pendulous pseudobulbs 150–600 mm (6–20 in) long and 6–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. The pseudobulbs have a thin, wiry base but expand to a fleshy, four-sided upper section and a tapering tip with between two and five thin but leathery leaves. The leaves are 50–90 mm (2–4 in) long and 15–40 mm (0.6–2 in) wide. The flowering stems are 10–35 mm (0.4–1 in) long and bear up to eight flowers. The number, size and colour of the flowers depend on subspecies. Flower size ranges from 30 to 120 mm (1.2 to 4.7 in) long and 20 to 80 mm (0.79 to 3.1 in) wide. The flowers range in colour from green to pale yellow, sometimes with red blotches and a labellum that ranges in colour from white, to yellowish with red, brown or purplish markings. The sepals range in size from 20 to 70 mm (0.79 to 2.8 in) long and 2 to 5 mm (0.08 to 0.2 in) wide and the petals from 10 to 40 mm (0.39 to 1.6 in) long and 1 to 2 mm (0.04 to 0.08 in) wide. The labellum ranges from 8 to 15 mm (0.31 to 0.59 in) long and from 6 to 20 mm (0.24 to 0.79 in) wide. Flowering occurs between April and November. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Dendrobium tetragonum was first formally described in 1839 by Allan Cunningham from a specimen "hanging loosely from the stems of small trees in dry shaded woods, Moreton Bay". The description was published in Edwards's Botanical Register edited by John Lindley. [5] [6]

Subdivisions

Distribution and habitat

Tree spider orchids are usually epiphytes which grow on trees in rainforest or shady places beside streams, but also sometimes on paperbark trees, especially Melaleuca styphelioides and occasionally on rocks. Different forms of the species occur in different areas of coastal or near-coastal New South Wales and Queensland.

Related Research Articles

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

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Bulbophyllum minutissimum, commonly known as the red bead orchid or grain-of-wheat orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with small, flattened, reddish or green pseudobulbs, scale-like leaves and small whitish to reddish flowers with broad dar red stripes. It grows on trees and rocks, mostly in swamps and near streams in eastern Australia.

<i>Bulbophyllum weinthalii</i> Species of orchid

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<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.

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

Dendrobium callitrophilum, commonly known as the thin feather orchid, is an epiphytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae with narrow pseudobulbs, one or two thin, leathery leaves and up to six greenish yellow flowers with a cream-coloured or apricot-coloured labellum. It grows in or near rainforest in isolated parts of tropical North 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 canaliculatum</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium canaliculatum, commonly known as the brown tea tree orchid or thin tea tree orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has cone-shaped or onion-shaped pseudobulbs, up to six deeply channelled, dark green leaves and up to thirty star-shaped, light brown to caramel-coloured white or greenish to apricot-coloured flowers with darker tips. It grows in tropical North Queensland and New Guinea.

<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.

Dendrobium schneiderae, commonly known as the Eungella moon orchid or small moon orchid, is an epiphytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It has crowded pseudobulbs with two leaves on the tip of each and arching flowering stems with up to thirty five waxy, yellowish, cup-shaped flowers. It grows in open forest and rainforest.

<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.

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 tetragonum". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. pp. 401–403. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. Weston, Peter H. "Dendrobium tetragonum". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  4. D.L.Jones; T.Hopley; S.M.Duffy (2010). "Tetrabaculum". Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids . Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government . Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  5. "Dendrobium tetragonum" . Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  6. Cunningham, Allan; Lindley, John (ed.) (1839). "Notes of Orchidaceous epiphytes of New South Wales". Edwards's Botanical Register. 25: 33. Retrieved 19 November 2018.{{cite journal}}: |first2= has generic name (help)
  7. "Dendrobium tetragonum var. cacatua". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Adams, Peter Barry (2011). "New combination and two new central Queensland taxa in the Dendrobium tetragonum (Orchidaceae:Epidendroideae) complex" (PDF). Muelleria. 29 (1): 69–80. doi:10.5962/p.292512. S2CID   251005838 . Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  9. "Dendrobium tetragonum subsp. cataractarum". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  10. "Dendrobium tetragonum subsp. giganteum". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  11. "Dendrobium tetragonum subsp. melaleucaphilum". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  12. "Dendrobium tetragonum subsp. serpentis". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  13. "'Dendrobium tetragonum subsp. tetragonum". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.