Drymoanthus

Drymoanthus
Close up of Drymoanthus adversus flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Tribe:	Vandeae
Subtribe:	Aeridinae
Genus:	Drymoanthus Nicholls [1]

Drymoanthus, commonly known as midget orchids ^[2] is a genus of epiphytic orchids in the family Orchidaceae. Plants in this genus are relatively small and unbranched with thick roots, narrow crowded leaves and small scented green flowers with a white labellum. There are four species, found in Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. ^[3]

Description

Orchids in the genus Drymoanthus are small, unbranched, epiphytic herbs with thick roots, a thin stem, narrow, crowded, thin, leathery leaves and small, short-lived green flowers with a white labellum. The sepals and petals are similar to each other although the petals are slightly shorter. The labellum is white, boat-shaped, unlobed and stiffly attached to the column. ^{[2] [4]}

Taxonomy and naming

The genus Drymoanthus was first formally described in 1943 by William Henry Nicholls and the description was published in The Victorian Naturalist . ^{[5] [6]}

Seven species are accepted by Plants of the World Online: ^[7]

• Drymoanthus adversus (Hook.f.) Dockrill - New Zealand including Chatham Island
• Drymoanthus brigittae (N.Hallé) M.A.Clem., D.L.Jones & D.P.Banks New Caledonia
• Drymoanthus flavus St.George & Molloy - New Zealand
• Drymoanthus florenciae (N.Hallé) M.A.Clem., D.L.Jones & D.P.Banks - New Caledonia
• Drymoanthus minimus (Schltr.) Garay - New Caledonia
• Drymoanthus minutus Nicholls - Queensland
• Drymoanthus neocaledonicus (Rendle) M.A.Clem., D.L.Jones & D.P.Banks - New Caledonia

See also

• List of Orchidaceae genera

References

1. "Drymoanthus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 25 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. 435. ISBN   1877069124.
3. Dillon, Joe; Lehnebach, Carlos (24 January 2023). "Summer scholar turns the spotlight on native tree-perching orchids". Te Papa Blog. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
4. D.L.Jones; T.Hopley; S.M.Duffy (2010). "Drymoanthus". Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids . Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government . Retrieved 30 May 2021.
5. "Drymoanthus". APNI. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
6. Nicholls, William Henry (1942). "A new genus of Australian orchids". The Victorian Naturalist. 59: 173–175. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
7. "Drymoanthus". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 25 October 2025.

External links

• Media related to Drymoanthus at Wikimedia Commons