Gastrodia queenslandica

Rainforest bells
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Tribe:	Gastrodieae
Genus:	Gastrodia
Species:	G. queenslandica
Binomial name
Gastrodia queenslandica Dockrill [1]
Synonyms [1]
Demorchis queenslandica(Dockrill) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Gastrodia queenslandica, commonly known as rainforest bells, ^[2] is a leafless terrestrial mycotrophic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has one or two small, yellowish brown, tube-shaped flowers on a thin, brittle flowering stem and grows in rainforest in tropical north Queensland, Australia.

Description

Gastrodia queenslandica is a leafless terrestrial, mycotrophic herb that has a thin, fleshy, brittle, light brown flowering stem bearing one or two yellowish brown, tube-shaped flowers that are orange-coloured inside. The sepals and petals are joined, forming a tube about 10 mm (0.4 in) long with spreading tips. The tube is rough on the outside and orange-coloured and smooth inside. The labellum is about 5.5 mm (0.2 in) long, 3 mm (0.1 in) wide and completely enclosed in the tube. Flowering occurs from November to January. ^{[2] [3]}

Taxonomy and naming

Gastrodia queenslandica was first formally described in 1964 by Alick William Dockrill who published the description in The North Queensland Naturalist. ^[4] In 2004, David Jones and Mark Clements changed the name to Demorchis queenslandica but the change has not been accepted by Plants of the World Online. ^{[1] [5]}

Distribution and habitat

Rainforest bells grows in near coastal rainforest between the Russell River and the McIlwraith Range but is rarely seen. ^{[2] [3]}

Conservation

This orchid is classed as "near threatened" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992. ^[6]

References

1. "Gastrodia queenslandica". 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. 368. ISBN   1877069124.
3. D.L.Jones; T.Hopley; S.M.Duffy (2010). "Factsheet - Demorchis queenslandica". Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids . Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government . Retrieved 30 May 2021.
4. "Gastrodia queenslandica". APNI. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
5. "Demorchis queenslandica". APNI. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
6. "Species profile - Demorchis queenslandica (Orchidaceae)". Queensland Government Department of the Environment. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2018.