Pholidota imbricata

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Common rattlesnake orchid
Pholidota imbricata Cultivated.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Arethuseae
Genus: Pholidota
Species:
P. imbricata
Binomial name
Pholidota imbricata
Synonyms [1]
Synonyms list
  • Cymbidium imbricatum(Lindl.) Roxb.
  • Coelogyne imbricata(Lindl.) Rchb.f.
  • Ptilocnema bracteataD.Don
  • Ornithidium imbricatumWall. ex Lindl.
  • Pholidota conchoideaLindl.
  • Pholidota calceataRchb.f.
  • Pholidota crotalinaRchb.f.
  • Pholidota loricataRchb.f.
  • Pholidota triotosRchb.f.
  • Coelogyne conchoidea(Lindl.) Rchb.f.
  • Coelogyne crotalina(Rchb.f.) Rchb.f.
  • Coelogyne loricata(Rchb.f.) Rchb.f.
  • Coelogyne triotos(Rchb.f.) Rchb.f.
  • Pholidota assamicaRegel
  • Pholidota imbricata var. coriaceaHook.f.
  • Pholidota imbricata var. longifoliaSchltr.
  • Pholidota imbricata var. montanaSchltr.
  • Pholidota imbricata var. platyphyllaSchltr.
  • Pholidota henryiKraenzl.
  • Pholidota beccariiSchltr.
  • Pholidota grandisKraenzl.
  • Pholidota spectabilisKraenzl. ex Guillaumin
  • Pholidota imbricata var. henryi(Kraenzl.) Tang & F.T.Wang
  • Pholidota bracteata(D.Don) Seidenf.

Pholidota imbricata, commonly known as the common rattlesnake orchid [2] or necklace orchid, [3] is a plant in the orchid family and is a clump-forming epiphyte or lithophyte with crowded pseudobulbs. Each pseudobulb has a single pleated, leathery leaf and up to sixty white, cream-coloured or greenish, cup-shaped flowers in two ranks along a wiry flowering stem. There is a large, papery bract at the base of each flower. This species is native to areas from tropical and subtropical Asia to the southwest Pacific.

Contents

Habit in Thattekad Bird Sanctuary Pholidota imbricata 04.JPG
Habit in Thattekad Bird Sanctuary

Description

Pholidota imbricata is an epiphytic or lithophytic, clump forming herb with crowded pseudobulbs 80–120 mm (3.1–4.7 in) long and 30–50 mm (1.2–2.0 in) wide. Each pseudobulb has a single pleated, leathery, dark green, oblong to lance-shaped leaf 200–400 mm (7.9–16 in) long and 60–80 mm (2.4–3.1 in) wide on a stalk about 50 mm (2.0 in) long. Between twenty and sixty cup-shaped, white, cream-coloured or greenish resupinate flowers 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long and 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) wide are arranged in two rows along a wiry flowering stem 150–400 mm (5.9–16 in) long. There is a large, concave pinkish bract at the base of each flower. The dorsal sepal is 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide, the lateral sepals 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long and about 3 mm (0.12 in) wide. The petals are 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long and about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) wide. The labellum is about 4 mm (0.16 in) long and 5 mm (0.20 in) wide and concave with three lobes. The side lobes are erect and the midlobe is divided again into three lobes. Flowering occurs between March and May. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Taxonomy and naming

Pholidota imbricata was first formally described in 1825 by William Jackson Hooker who published the description in Exotic Flora. [6] [7] The specific epithet (imbricata) is a Latin word meaning "overlapping like roofing-tiles and shingles". [8]

Distribution and habitat

The common rattlesnake orchid usually grows on trees and rocks in rainforest, sometimes in other humid, sheltered places. It occurs in China, the Indian subcontinent, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Nicobar Islands, Thailand, Vietnam, Borneo, Java, the Lesser Sunda Islands, Peninsular Malaysia, the Maluku Islands, the Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatra, the Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Queensland, Fiji, New Caledonia, the Santa Cruz Islands and Vanuatu. [1] In Queensland it is found on some Torres Strait Island and on the Cape York Peninsula as far south as Townsville. [2] [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Pholidota</i> (plant) Genus of orchids

Pholidota, commonly known as rattlesnake orchids, is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Plants in this genus are clump-forming epiphytes or lithophytes with pseudobulbs, each with a single large leaf and a large number of small, whitish flowers arranged in two ranks along a thin, wiry flowering stem that emerges from the top of the pseudobulb. There are about thirty five species native to areas from tropical and subtropical Asia to the southwestern Pacific.

Acriopsis emarginata, commonly known as the pale chandelier orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Queensland. It is a clump-forming epiphyte with dark green leaves and curved, branching flower stems with many white and cream-coloured flowers.

<i>Cymbidium madidum</i> Species of orchid

Cymbidium madidum, commonly known as the giant boat-lip orchid, is a plant in the orchid family and is endemic to north-eastern Australia. It is a clump-forming epiphyte or lithophyte with crowded pseudobulbs, each with between four and eight flat, strap-shaped, thin leaves and up to seventy olive green flowers with the sepals and petals curving forwards. It is found in moist habitats in eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales.

<i>Dendrobium discolor</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium discolor, commonly known as antler orchids, are epiphytic or lithophytic orchids in the family Orchidaceae. They have cylindrical pseudobulbs, each with between ten and thirty five leathery leaves, and flowering stems with up to forty mostly brownish or greenish flowers with wavy and twisted sepals and petals. Antler orchids occur in northern Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia and there are several subspecies and varieties.

<i>Bulbophyllum wadsworthii</i> Species of orchid

Bulbophyllum wadsworthii, commonly known as the yellow rope orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that forms clumps that hang off the surface on which the plant is growing. The pseudobulbs are small and partly hidden by brown, papery bracts. Each pseudobulb has a single fleshy, dark green leaf and a single star-shaped, cream-coloured or pale green flower with an orange labellum. It mainly grows on trees and rocks in rainforest and is endemic to Queensland.

<i>Phaius tankervilleae <span style="font-style:normal;">var.</span> australis</i> Variety of orchid

Phaius tankervilleaevar.australis, also known as the common swamp orchid, southern swamp-orchid, swamp lily or island swamp-orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It is an evergreen, terrestrial herb with large, crowded pseudobulbs, large pleated leaves and flowers that are reddish brown on the inside and white outside.

<i>Spathoglottis paulinae</i> Species of orchid

Spathoglottis paulinae, commonly known as the small purple orchid, is a plant in the orchid family and is native to New Guinea and Tropical North Queensland. It is an evergreen terrestrial orchid with crowded pseudobulbs, between four and seven large, pleated leaves and up to thirty mauve to purple flowers.

<i>Dendrobium callitrophilum</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium callitrophilum, commonly known as the thin feather orchid, is an epiphytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae with narrow pseudobulbs, one or two thin, leathery leaves and up to six greenish yellow flowers with a cream-coloured or apricot-coloured labellum. It grows in or near rainforest in isolated parts of tropical North Queensland.

<i>Dendrobium falcorostrum</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium falcorostrum, commonly known as the beech orchid, is a species of epiphytic orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has spindle-shaped pseudobulbs, each with between two and five leathery leaves and up to twenty crowded white flowers with purple markings on the labellum.

Thelymitra bracteata, commonly called the leafy sun orchid or large-bracted sum orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single leathery, more or less flat leaf and up to thirty pale blue flowers that are greenish on the back. The bracts are larger than on similar sun orchids.

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 adae</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium adae, commonly known as the slender cane orchid, is an epiphytic, sometimes lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has cylindrical pseudobulbs, up to four dark green leaves and up to six white or greenish to apricot-coloured flowers. It grows in tropical North Queensland, Australia.

<i>Dendrobium bifalce</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium bifalce, commonly known as the native bee orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has spindle-shaped pseudobulbs with up to four leathery leaves and up to ten pale green or greenish yellow flowers with purplish markings. It grows on trees and boulders in rainforest in tropical North Queensland, Australia and in New Guinea.

Dendrobium schneiderae, commonly known as the Eungella moon orchid or small moon orchid, is an epiphytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It has crowded pseudobulbs with two leaves on the tip of each and arching flowering stems with up to thirty five waxy, yellowish, cup-shaped flowers. It grows in open forest and rainforest.

Dendrobium eungellensis, is an epiphytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to northern Queensland. It has dark greenish brown pseudobulbs with up to three leaves on the end and up to eight fragrant white flowers with thin, spreading sepals and petals. It grows in open forest in the Eungella National Park.

Dendrobium glabrum, commonly known as the creeping star orchid, is a species of epiphytic orchid native to New Guinea and Australia. It has shiny pseudobulbs with a single leathery leaf and white, star-shaped flowers with yellow tips. It forms large clumps on trees in humid forests.

Dendrobium rupicoloides, commonly known as the northern rock orchid, is a species of lithophytic orchid that is endemic to tropical North Queensland. It has tapered green to reddish pseudobulbs, up to three thick, leathery leaves and up to fifty white flowers with purple markings on the labellum.

Dendrobium deuteroeburneum, commonly known as the rainforest feather orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. Its pseudobulbs are cylindrical, pressed against the host tree or rock and have one or two leathery, dark green leaves and up to seven pale greenish cream-coloured flowers with purple markings on the labellum.

<i>Micropera fasciculata</i> Species of orchid

Micropera fasciculata, commonly known as the pale dismal orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with wiry stems forming large, tangled clumps. It has stiff, leathery leaves and flowering stems with between ten and twenty cream-coloured flowers with a white labellum. This orchid occurs in New Guinea, Queensland, the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia.

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 3 "Pholidota imbricata". 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. 472. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 "Necklace orchid". Flowers of India. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  4. 1 2 D.L.Jones; T.Hopley; S.M.Duffy (2010). "Factsheet - Pholidota imbricata". Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids . Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government . Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  5. "Pholidota imbricata". Orchids of New Guinea. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  6. "Pholidota imbricata". APNI. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  7. Hooker, William Jackson (1825). Exotic Botany (Volume 2). Edinburgh: William Blackwood. pp. 138–139. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  8. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 434.