Dipodium pardalinum

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Dipodium pardalinum
Dipodium pardalinum - Lower Glenelg National Park.jpg
Inflorescence
Lower Glenelg National Park, Victoria
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Dipodium
Species:
D. pardalinum
Binomial name
Dipodium pardalinum

Dipodium pardalinum, commonly known as spotted hyacinth-orchid [3] or leopard hyacinth-orchid, [4] is a leafless hemiparasitic orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. [3]

Contents

Description

For most of the year, plants are dormant and have no above-ground presence. Below the ground lie fleshy roots. Flower spikes between 40 and 90 cm in height appear between December and March in the species' native range. [5] These racemose inflorescences have 10 to 40 white to pale pink fleshy flowers with dark red spots or blotches. The tepals are strongly recurved and the three-lobed labellum has a line of white hairs. [5]

Taxonomy

The species was formally described in 1996 by botanist David L. Jones in the journal Muelleria . The type specimen was collected in Heathmere, Victoria. [1] The specific epithet pardalinum comes from the Greek word for leopard (pardos) alluding to the spots on the flowers. [5]

Distribution and habitat

Dipodium pardalinum occurs in western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia in open forest with an understorey of bracken or shrubs. [5]

Victoria

It occurs in the west of the state with records from Wombat State Forest, Smythesdale, Creswick, and Heathmere to the north of Portland. A single observation has been reported from The Basin in the Dandenong Ranges. [5]

South Australia

In South Australia, the species occurs from Naracoorte on the Victorian border to the Mount Lofty Ranges. [5] In the Adelaide-Mount Lofty region the species is found in stringybark ( Eucalyptus obliqua ) woodland growing in association with Acacia myrtifolia , Xanthorrhoea semiplana ssp. tateana and Pteridium esculentum . [4] It does not grow in proximity to other Dipodium species as is the case elsewhere. [4] Prior to recognition as a distinct taxon, this population was regarded as a variety of Dipodium roseum . [4]

In the Deep Creek Conservation Park at the southern end of the Fleurieu Peninsula, the species is threatened by an invasion of broom ( Genista monspessulana ). [4]

Ecology

Pollination of this species, as for all species in the genus, is by native bees and wasps. [3]

Conservation

The species is listed as "rare" on the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries' advisory list of rare or threatened plants in Victoria and "vulnerable" in South Australia. [6] [7]

Cultivation

No leafless species of Dipodium has been sustained in cultivation due to the inability to replicate its association with mycorrhizal fungi in a horticultural context. [3]

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

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

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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 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.

Pterostylis aenigma, commonly known as the enigmatic greenhood is a species of orchid endemic to Victoria. It has a rosette of leaves and a single green and white flower which leans forward and has a brownish point on the end. It is a rare orchid, occurring at only one site with fewer than 100 individual plants and is thought to be a natural hybrid between two species that grow nearby.

<i>Pterostylis basaltica</i> Species of orchid

Pterostylis basaltica, commonly known as the basalt rustyhood or basalt greenhood is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Victoria. It has a rosette of leaves and eight to fifteen translucent white flowers with green and brown markings and a brownish, insect-like labellum. It is a rare species only known from a small area and is endangered.

Prasophyllum suaveolens, commonly known as the fragrant leek orchid, is a species of orchid species endemic to inland Victoria. It has a single bright green, tube-shaped leaf with a reddish base and up to twenty five green to yellowish-green flowers with red markings. The flowers are the smallest of any leek orchid found in Victoria.

<i>Arthrochilus huntianus</i> Species of flowering plant

Arthrochilus huntianus, commonly known as common elbow orchid, is a flowering plant in the orchid family (Orchidaceae) and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has no leaves but an insect-like flower which has its labellum dangling like a lure away from the rest of the flower. Because of its thin, wiry stem and small, dull-coloured flowers, this orchid is difficult to locate. Like others in the genus, the flowers are pollinated by a species of thynnid wasp. Some authorities use the name Thynninorchis huntiana for this orchid.

<i>Thelymitra holmesii</i> Species of orchid

Thelymitra holmesii, commonly called the blue star sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single long, narrow, fleshy leaf and up to nine purplish blue to mauve flowers with a deeply notched lobe on top of the anther.

<i>Calochilus campestris</i> Species of orchid

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References

  1. 1 2 "Dipodium pardalinum". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  2. "Dipodium pardalinum D.L.Jones". The Plant List version 1.1. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia, including the island territories. Australia: Reed New Holland Publishers. ISBN   9781877069123.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dipodium pardalinum". Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Threatened Species Profile. Department of Environment and Heritage. May 2008.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jones, D.L. (2009). "Dipodium pardalinum (Orchidaceae), a new species from Victoria and South Australia". Muelleria. 9: 105–109.
  6. "Threatened species advisory lists". Department of Environment and Primary Industries. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  7. "Census of South Australian Vascular Plants Edition 5.00" (PDF). Botanic Gardens of Adelaide & State Herbarium. 2005.