Robiquetia wassellii

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Robiquetia wassellii
LR068 72dpi Robiquetia wassellii.jpg
Illustration by Lewis Roberts
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Robiquetia
Species:
R. wassellii
Binomial name
Robiquetia wassellii

Robiquetia wassellii, commonly known as the green pouched orchid, [2] is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid from the family Orchidaceae. It has thick roots, a pendulous stem, between three and six crowded, dark green leaves and many crowded dark green flowers with pink to red centres and a white to yellowish labellum. It grows on trees and rocks in rainforest in tropical North Queensland, Australia.

Contents

Flowers of Robiquetia wassellii Robiquetia wassellii.jpg
Flowers of Robiquetia wassellii

Description

Robiquetia wassellii is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb that forms sparse clumps. It has thick roots and a pendulous stem, 100–500 millimetres (3.9–20 in) long. There are between three and six dark green leaves 80–140 millimetres (3.1–5.5 in) long and about 30 millimetres (1.2 in) wide. A large number of resupinate, cup-shaped, dark green flowers with a pink to red centre, 12–14 millimetres (0.47–0.55 in) long, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) are crowded on a pendulous flowering stem 100–150 mm (3.9–5.9 in) long. The sepals are blunt, narrow egg-shaped, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and 3–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14 in) wide, the dorsal sepal slightly longer and narrower than the lateral sepals. The petals are about 5.5 mm (0.22 in) long and 3.5 mm (0.14 in) wide. The labellum is white to yellowish, about 5.5 mm (0.22 in) long and 3.5 mm (0.14 in) wide and is basin-like with a beak-like tip and a spur about 12 mm (0.47 in). Flowering occurs from June to August. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Robiquetia wassellii was first formally described in 1967 by Alick Dockrill who published the description in Australasian Sarcahthinae from a specimen collected in the McIlwraith Range by Joseph Leathom Hole Wassell. [4] The specific epithet (wassellii) honours the collector of the type specimen. [5]

Distribution and habitat

The green pouched orchid grows on trees and boulders in humid rainforest in the Iron and McIlwraith Ranges. [2] [3]

Related Research Articles

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

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Dendrobium brevicaudum, commonly known as the Mount Finnigan pencil orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It has hanging stems, cylindrical leaves and groups of about six yellowish or orange-brown flowers with red streaks and a white labellum. It is only known from two mountainous areas north of Cairns.

<i>Podochilus australiensis</i> Species of orchid

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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 nindii</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium nindii, commonly known as the blue antler orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has erect, cylindrical, leafy pseudobulbs with leathery, dark green leaves and up to twenty mauve or violet flowers with darker veins on the labellum. This antler orchid occurs in tropical North Queensland and New Guinea.

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

Dendrobium racemosum, commonly known as the erect pencil orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to tropical North Queensland. It is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with yellowish stems, cylindrical dark green leaves and flowering stems with between eight and fifteen cream-coloured to pale yellow flowers with a thread-like tip on the labellum. It grows on trees and rocks in exposed positions in highland areas and in the tops of rainforest trees at lower altitudes.

Dendrobium clementsii, commonly known as the Cape York crimp orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that is endemic to tropical North Queensland, Australia. It has long stems, tapering pseudobulbs each with a thin, leathery dark green leaf and clusters of short-lived, cream-coloured flowers with a purple labellum.

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

Dendrobium malbrownii, commonly known as the McIlwraith hermit orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to tropical North Queensland, Australia. It has thin, wiry, crowded stems each with narrow, dark green leaves and a single shiny, cream-coloured flower with a purple labellum. It grows on trees, fallen logs and rocks in rainforest on the McIlwraith Range.

Dendrobium neospectabile, commonly known as the Eungella king orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that is endemic to tropical North Queensland. It has cylindrical, yellowish green pseudobulbs, up to three thick, leathery leaves and up to two hundred and fifty crowded cream-coloured to pale yellow flowers with reddish purple streaks on the labellum.

Drymoanthus minutus, commonly known as the green midget orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that forms small clumps with many thick roots emerging from a thin, erect stem. Between two and five dark green, leathery leaves are arranged along the stem and up to seven minute green to yellowish, star-shaped flowers are arranged on a stiff flowering stem. The sepals and petals are similar to each other and there is a fleshy white, unlobed labellum. This orchid occurs in northern Queensland where it grows in rainforest, usually at higher altitudes.

<i>Pomatocalpa marsupiale</i> Species of orchid

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<i>Robiquetia gracilistipes</i> Species of orchid

Robiquetia gracilistipes, commonly known as the large pouched orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid from the family Orchidaceae that forms large, hanging, straggly clumps. It has long, thick, roots, a single stem, many thick, leathery leaves and up to forty cream-coloured, pale green or brownish flowers with red spots and a three-lobed labellum. It grows on trees and rocks in rainforest, usually in bright light. It is found in Malesia including New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and tropical North Queensland, Australia.

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<i>Trachoma speciosum</i> Species of orchid

Trachoma speciosum, commonly known as the showy spectral orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that forms clumps with many thick, cord-like roots, between four and eight thick, leathery leaves and many short-lived, cream-coloured flowers with an orange and white labellum. This orchid occurs in tropical North Queensland.

<i>Trachoma stellatum</i> Species of orchid

Trachoma stellatum, commonly known as the starry spectral orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic clump-forming orchid with many thick roots. It has between three and eight thick, leathery leaves and many short-lived, cream-coloured flowers with purple markings and a yellow-tipped labellum. This orchid occurs in tropical North Queensland.

<i>Trichoglottis australiensis</i> Species of orchid

Trichoglottis australiensis, commonly known as the weeping cherub orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic clump-forming orchid. It has thick, cord-like roots, flattened, branching stems, many thick, leathery, glossy leaves and between two and six creamy yellow flowers with reddish blotches. This orchid only occurs in tropical North Queensland.

References

  1. "Robiquetia wassellii". 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. 445. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 "Robiquetia wassellii". Trin keys: Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  4. "Robiquetia wassellii". APNI. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  5. "Wassell, Joseph Leathom Hole (1908 - 1966)". Australian National Herbarium. Retrieved 2 January 2019.