Liparis simmondsii

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Coastal sprite orchid
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Subtribe: Malaxidinae
Genus: Liparis
Species:
L. simmondsii
Binomial name
Liparis simmondsii
Synonyms [1]

Liparis simmondsii, commonly known as the coastal sprite orchid, [2] is a plant in the orchid family and is endemic to Queensland. It is a terrestrial orchid with two or three egg-shaped leaves and between three and fifteen deep reddish purple flowers with a green column. It grows in near-coastal rainforest.

Contents

Description

Liparis simmondsii is a terrestrial herb with between two and four curved, tapering stems, each 60–80 mm (2–3 in) and 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide. Each stem has two or three egg-shaped, pleated leaves 80–120 mm (3–5 in) long and 40–60 mm (1.6–2.4 in) wide with wavy edges on a stalk up to 20 mm (0.8 in) long. Between three and fifteen deep reddish purple flowers, 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long and 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 150–250 mm (6–10 in) long. The dorsal sepal is 9–11 mm (0.35–0.43 in) long, about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide and the lateral sepals are a similar length, about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide with their tips twisted. The petals are also a similar length but only about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. The labellum is 8–9 mm (0.31–0.35 in) long and 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide with a square-cut or rounded tip and turns sharply downwards. The column is green. Flowering occurs between December and February. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Liparis simmondsii was first formally described in 1891 by Frederick Manson Bailey and the description was published in the Department of Agriculture Queensland, Botany Bulletin. [5] The specific epithet (simmondsii) honours John Howard Simmonds. [5] [6]

Distribution and habitat

The coastal sprite orchid grows in coastal rainforest between Fraser Island and Maroochydore. There is a doubtful record from the upper Brunswick River in northern New South Wales. [2] [3]

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<i>Acianthus fornicatus</i>

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Genoplesium psammophilum is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to coastal and near-coastal areas in south-eastern Queensland. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to thirty five small, dark red or brownish red flowers.

<i>Calochilus therophilus</i>

Calochilus therophilus, commonly known as the late beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single channelled, dark green leaf with a reddish base and up to fifteen dull greenish flowers with bold red stripes. The labellum has a dark purplish beard with two "eye" spots. Unlike that of other beard orchids, there is no prominent ridge between the eye spots.

<i>Calochilus campestris</i>

Calochilus campestris, commonly known as the copper beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single fleshy, channelled leaf and up to fifteen pale green and red flowers with a purple "beard".

Calochilus grandiflorus, commonly known as the giant beard orchid or golden beard orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single leaf with a reddish base and up to fifteen relatively large golden bronze-coloured flowers with a red or coppery red "beard".

<i>Crepidium fimbriatum</i> Species of orchid

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<i>Liparis habenarina</i> Species of orchid

Liparis habenarina, commonly known as the common sphinx orchid or common hobgoblin orchid, is a plant in the orchid family and is endemic to Australia. It is a deciduous, terrestrial orchid with two or three egg-shaped leaves and between eight and twenty-two brownish to purplish flowers with their lateral sepals joined at the base. It grows in the understorey of near-coastal forests.

Liparis petricola, commonly known as the mountain sprite orchid, is a plant in the orchid family and is endemic to Queensland. It is a terrestrial orchid with two or three egg-shaped leaves and between three and fifteen deep reddish purple flowers with a green column. It grows in rainforest in tropical far North Queensland.

Liparis coelogynoides, commonly known as the fairy sphinx orchid, is a plant in the orchid family and is endemic to near-coastal eastern Australia. It is an epiphytic orchid with two leaves joined at the base and that grows in clumps. Greenish white or yellowish flowers are borne on an often hanging spike. It grows on trees and cliff faces usually on ranges near the coast of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland.

Liparis swenssonii, commonly known as northern tom cats, is a plant in the orchid family and is endemic to far eastern Australia. It is a lithophytic orchid with one or two leaves and up to thirty or more greenish, strongly scented flowers. It grows on rocks or in rocky soil in moist forests.

Liparis fleckeri, commonly known as the slender sphinx orchid, is a plant in the orchid family and is endemic to Queensland. It is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with two thin leaves and up to twenty pale green or whitish flowers. It grows in rainforest at altitudes of 900 m (3,000 ft) or more in tropical far North Queensland.

Liparis nugentiae, commonly known as the large sphinx orchid, is a plant in the orchid family and is endemic to Queensland. It is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid which forms clumps with flattened pseudobulbs, two to four thin leaves and up to twenty greenish or pale yellow flowers. It grows in rainforest at altitudes above 600 m (2,000 ft) in tropical far North Queensland.

<i>Dendrobium schoeninum</i>

Dendrobium schoeninum, commonly known as the common pencil orchid, is an epiphytic or sometimes a lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae and has thin wiry, upright or pendent stems with fleshy, grooved, dark green leaves. Its short flowering stems have one or two, rarely up to four pale green, cream-coloured or mauve flowers with purple markings on the labellum. It grows on rainforest margins in coastal New South Wales and southern Queensland.

Liparis bracteata, commonly known as the yellow sphinx orchid, is a plant in the orchid family. It is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with cone-shaped pseudobulbs, each with two linear to lance-shaped leaves and between seven and twelve star-shaped pale green flowers that turn yellow as they age. This orchid grows on trees and rocks in rainforest in tropical North Queensland.

References

  1. 1 2 "Liparis simmondsii". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. 1 2 3 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 358. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 "Liparis simmondsii". Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  4. Harden, Gwen (ed.) (1993). Flora of New South Wales (Volume 4). Kensington, N.S.W.: New South Wales University Press. p. 226. ISBN   0868401889.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  5. 1 2 "Liparis simmondsii". APNI. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  6. Dowe, John Leslie (2017). "A family's contribution to Queensland botany: John Howard Simmonds [Snr] (1862–1955), Rose Simmonds (née Culpin) (1877–1960) and John Howard Simmonds [Jnr] (1901–1992)" (PDF). Austrobaileya. 10 (1): 168–183. Retrieved 25 October 2018.