Dipodium hamiltonianum

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Yellow hyacinth-orchid
Dipodium hamiltonianum.jpg
Dipodium hamiltonianum in East Gippsland
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Dipodium
Species:
D. hamiltonianum
Binomial name
Dipodium hamiltonianum

Dipodium hamiltonianum, commonly known as yellow hyacinth-orchid, [2] is a leafless mycoheterotroph orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has up to twenty five greenish flowers with dark red spots on a tall flowering stem.

Contents

Description

For most of the year, D. hamiltonianum plants are dormant and have no above-ground presence. Below the ground lie fleshy roots. Flower spikes between 40 and 80 cm in height appear between November and March in the species' native range. These racemose inflorescences have 3 to 25 yellow or greenish-yellow fleshy flowers with red to purple spots. The three-lobed forward-projecting labellum is white with purple markings and has a tuft of white hairs. Tubers usually produce only a single flower spike. Flower spikes from an individual plant may appear as infrequently as once in a five-year period. [2] [3]

Taxonomy

The species was formally described by Queensland Colonial Botanist Frederick Manson Bailey in 1881 based on plant material collected from Stradbroke Island and Peel Island near Brisbane in Queensland. [1]

In 1913, Bailey demoted the species, treating it as a subspecies of Dipodium punctatum . In 1944, botanist and orchid specialist Herman Rupp reinstated the species. [1] It is named for James Hamilton, superintendent of the Benevolent Asylum in Dunwich on Stradbroke Island who collected specimens for Bailey. [4]

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs from central Queensland southwards through New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory to eastern Victoria. [2] [3] Its altitudinal range is sea level to 800 metres AHD [3]

Queensland

In Queensland it occurs southwards from the Theodore region. [3] In tropical areas the habitat is recorded as grassy streamside areas, while in coastal areas they are found in scrub and heath. [3] At Noosa Heads it has been observed in wallum woodland and dry heathland. [5]

New South Wales

In New South Wales the species is recorded on dry western slopes on acidic sandy soils, as far west as the Parkes district. [6] It is found on sandy soils at the southern end of Seven Mile Beach National Park on the south coast. [7] It also recorded in the Australian Capital Territory. [3]

Victoria

Seven populations have been recorded in low, open forest in north-eastern Victoria, usually among granite boulders. [2] Four of these are in the Beechworth area, one in Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park, one in Chiltern Regional Park and another on private land near Chesney Vale. [2] Associated tree species in the Beechworth area include red stringybark ( Eucalyptus macrorhyncha ), red box ( Eucalyptus polyanthemos ), Blakely's Red Gum ( Eucalyptus blakelyi ) and black cypress-pine ( Callitris endlicheri ). Associated shrub species at Chiltern and Chesney Vale include daphne heath ( Brachyloma daphnoides ), hairy hop bush ( Dodonaea boroniifolia ), cats's claws ( Grevillea alpina ), erect guinea-flower ( Hibbertia riparia ), and flat-leaf bush-pea ( Pultenaea platyphylla ). [2]

A further two populations are located near Wulgulmerang in East Gippsland, where white box ( Eucalyptus albens ) is the dominant species. [2] The flowering period in Victoria is December to January. [2] The species generally occurs on dry, well-drained north-facing slopes on granitic soils. [2]

Ecology

It is thought that the flowers may be pollinated by small native bees or wasps. [2] Grazing wallabies (often black wallabies ( Wallabia bicolor ) in Victoria) may incidentally cut off flower spikes but do not consume them. [2]

Conservation

Research has been undertaken to investigate the ecological requirements of the species to assist with both its in-situ conservation as well as conservation through cultivation. The principal fungal endophytes were found to be species of two genera within the family Russulaceae, Gymnomyces and Russula . [8] Ectomycorrhizal species in this family are commonly associated with eucalypts in Australia, however the study did not identify a preferred tree host species. [9]

The species is listed as "threatened" in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and "Vulnerable in Victoria" on the Department of Sustainability and Environment's Advisory List of Rare Or Threatened Plants In Victoria. [10] [11] The population of the species in Victoria in 1997 was 105 plants, recorded in 9 locations. [2]

Cultivation

To date, the orchid has not been brought in to cultivation or successfully transplanted due to the inability to replicate its association with mycorrhizal fungi in a horticultural context. [2]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Banksia robur</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae from the east coast of Australia

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<i>Banksia aemula</i> Shrub of the family Proteaceae found on the Australian east coast

Banksia aemula, commonly known as the wallum banksia, is a shrub of the family Proteaceae. Found from Bundaberg south to Sydney on the Australian east coast, it is encountered as a shrub or a tree to 8 m (26 ft) in coastal heath on deep sandy soil, known as Wallum. It has wrinkled orange bark and shiny green serrated leaves, with green-yellow flower spikes, known as inflorescences, appearing in autumn. The flower spikes turn grey as they age and large grey follicles appear. Banksia aemula resprouts from its woody base, known as a lignotuber, after bushfires.

<i>Eucalyptus robusta</i> Species of eucalyptus

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<i>Dipodium</i> Genus of orchids

Dipodium, commonly known as hyacinth orchids, is a genus of about forty species of orchids native to tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of south-east Asia, New Guinea, the Pacific Islands and Australia. It includes both terrestrial and climbing species, some with leaves and some leafless, but all with large, often colourful flowers on tall flowering stems. It is the only genus of its alliance, Dipodium.

<i>Dipodium punctatum</i> Species of orchid

Dipodium punctatum, commonly known as the blotched hyacinth-orchid, is a leafless orchid that is a native to eastern and south-eastern continental Australia. In summer it produces a tall flowering stem with up to sixty pale to bright pink flowers with heavy red blotches. A widespread and common species it is often confused with D. roseum and some authorities regard it as a synonym of D. squamatum.

<i>Dipodium roseum</i> Species of orchid

Dipodium roseum, commonly known as rosy hyacinth-orchid or pink hyacinth-orchid, is a leafless saprophytic orchid found in east and south-eastern Australia. In summer it produces a tall flowering stem with up to fifty pale pink flowers with small, dark red spots. A widespread and common species it is often confused with D. punctatum but has darker, less heavily spotted flowers.

<i>Eucalyptus albens</i> Species of plant

Eucalyptus albens, known as the white box, is a common tree of the western slopes and plains of New South Wales and adjacent areas in Queensland and Victoria. It has rough, fibrous bark on the base of its trunk and smooth, white bark above. The leaves are lance-shaped and groups of seven spindle-shaped flower buds are arranged in leaf axils or on the ends of the branches. White flowers are mostly present between August and February and the fruit are barrel-shaped to urn-shaped.

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<i>Dipodium pardalinum</i> Species of orchid

Dipodium pardalinum, commonly known as spotted hyacinth-orchid or leopard hyacinth-orchid, is a leafless hemiparasitic orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia.

<i>Dipodium variegatum</i> Species of orchid

Dipodium variegatum, commonly known as the slender hyacinth-orchid, or blotched hyacinth-orchid, is a leafless mycoheterotrophic orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It forms mycorrhizal relationships with fungi of the genus Russula.

Dipodium campanulatum, commonly known as the bell-flower hyacinth orchid, is a leafless mycoheterotroph orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. In summer it has up to thirty five white flowers with large, dark red spots and blotches.

<i>Dipodium stenocheilum</i> Species of orchid

Dipodium stenocheilum, commonly known as tropical hyacinth-orchid, is a leafless saprophytic orchid that is endemic to northern Australia. For most of the year the plant is dormant but in summer it produces a tall flowering stem with up to twenty five white flowers with purple spots and a mauve labellum.

<i>Dipodium ensifolium</i> Species of orchid

Dipodium ensifolium, commonly known as leafy hyacinth-orchid, is an orchid species that is endemic to north-east Queensland. It has sword-shaped leaves and up to twenty pink to mauve flowers with purplish spots and blotches.

<i>Dipodium pictum</i> Species of orchid

Dipodium pictum, commonly known as brittle climbing-orchid or climbing hyacinth-orchid, is an orchid species that is native to Malesia and the Cape York Peninsula in Australia.

<i>Dipodium atropurpureum</i> Species of orchid

Dipodium atropurpureum, commonly known as the purple hyacinth orchid, is a mostly leafless mycoheterotrophic orchid that is endemic to New South Wales. In summer it has up to forty dark pinkish purple to reddish purple flowers with darker spots and blotches on a tall flowering stem.

Dipodium pulchellum is an almost leafless orchid that is endemic to north-east New South Wales and south-east Queensland in Australia. Up to forty pink flowers with darker blotches are borne in summer and winter on flowering spikes up to 90 cm (40 in) long.

<i>Caladenia concolor</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia concolor, commonly known as the crimson spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-east of Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single, sparsely hairy leaf, and one or two hairy, dark purplish-red flowers.

Caladenia insularis, commonly known as French island spider orchid is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Victoria. It is a ground orchid with a single leaf and usually only one cream-coloured, pink or pale yellow flower, heavily streaked with red. It is only known from French Island.

<i>Genoplesium nudiscapum</i> Species of orchid

Genoplesium nudiscapum, commonly known as the bare midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid endemic to Tasmania. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to twenty small, green and reddish-brown flowers. It was thought to be extinct, since it had not been seen since 1852 but was rediscovered in 2008. The species has also been described as occurring on continental Australia. The species is known as Corunastylis nudiscapa in Tasmania.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Dipodium hamiltonianum". APNI. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Jessup, Scott. "Action statement - yellow hyacinth orchid Dipodium hamiltonianum" (PDF). The State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 271. ISBN   978-1877069123.
  4. Bailey, Frederick Manson (1882). "On the flora of Stradbroke Island, with a description of new species". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 6: 141. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  5. "Dipodium hamiltonianum". Noosa's Native Plants. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  6. "Dipodium hamiltonianum F.M.Bailey". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  7. "Seven Mile Beach National Park and Comerong Island Nature Reserve Plan of Management" (PDF). New South Wales Parks and Wildlife Service. February 1998. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  8. Dearnaley, J. D. W.; Le Brocque, A. F. (2006). "Molecular identification of the primary root fungal endophytes of Dipodium hamiltonianum (Orchidaceae)" (PDF). Australian Journal of Botany. 54 (5): 487. doi:10.1071/BT05149. ISSN   0067-1924.
  9. "Project 245/2005 Title: Fungal associations of Dipodium hamiltonianum (Yellow hyacinth orchid)". Funded projects. Australian Orchid Foundation. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  10. "Advisory List of Rare Or Threatened Plants In Victoria - 2005" (PDF). Department of Sustainability and Environment (Victoria). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  11. "Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act - Listed Taxa, Communities and Potentially Threatening Processes". Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. Department of Environment and Primary Industries. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2013.