Sarcochilus | |
---|---|
Illustration of Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii from Fitzgerald's Australian Orchids [1] | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Orchidaceae |
Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
Tribe: | Vandeae |
Subtribe: | Aeridinae |
Genus: | Sarcochilus R.Br. [2] |
Type species | |
Sarcochilus falcatus | |
Synonyms [2] | |
Sarcochilus, commonly known as butterfly orchids or fairy bells [4] is a genus of about twenty species of flowering plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Plants in this genus are epiphytes or lithophytes and usually have short stems, leaves arranged in two rows, and flowers arranged along unbranched flowering stems. Most species are endemic to Australia but some are found in New Guinea and New Caledonia.
Orchids in the genus Sarcochilus are epiphytic or lithophytic monopodial herbs with fibrous stems and long, relatively broad leaves folded lengthwise and arranged in two ranks. The flowers are scented, resupinate and arranged on an unbranched flowering stem, each flower on a short thin stalk. The sepals and petals are free from and similar to each other except that the petals are usually smaller than the sepals. The labellum is hinged to the column and has three lobes. The sides lobes are relatively large and upright, sometimes curving inwards. The structure of the middle lobe varies between species. [4] [5] [6] [7]
The genus Sarcochilus was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown and the description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen . [3] [8] The name Sarcochilus is derived from the Ancient Greek words sarx meaning "flesh" [9] : 47 and cheilos meaning "lip", [9] : 200 referring to the fleshy labellum of these orchids. [5]
The genus Sarcochilus has been shown to be non-monophyletic. [10]
The following is a list of Sarcochilus species recognised by Plants of the World Online as of March 2023. The common names in the list below are those used by David Jones. [4] [11]
Image | Name | Common Name | Distribution | Elevation (m) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sarcochilus argochilus D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem., 2006 | northern lawyer orchid | Queensland | 400–1,000 metres (1,300–3,300 ft) | |
Sarcochilus australis (Lindl.) Rchb.f. in Walp., 1863 | butterfly orchid, Gunn's tree orchid | New South Wales through south-eastern Victoria to northern Tasmania. | 0–1,000 metres (0–3,281 ft) | |
Sarcochilus borealis (Nicholls) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem., 1989 | small lawyer orchid | New South Wales and Queensland | 800–1,000 metres (2,600–3,300 ft) | |
Sarcochilus ceciliae F.Muell., 1865 | fairy bells | Queensland and New South Wales | 150–900 metres (490–2,950 ft) | |
Sarcochilus chrysanthus Schltr., 1913 | New Guinea | 1,000–2,400 metres (3,300–7,900 ft) | ||
Sarcochilus dilatatus F.Muell., 1859 | brown butterfly orchid | Queensland and New South Wales | 0–400 metres (0–1,312 ft) | |
Sarcochilus falcatus R.Br., 1810 | orange blossom orchid | Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria | 100–1,400 metres (330–4,590 ft) | |
Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii F.Muell., 1870 | ravine orchid | Queensland and New South Wales | 500–800 metres (1,600–2,600 ft) | |
Sarcochilus gildasii N.Hallé, 1986 | New Caledonia | |||
Sarcochilus hartmannii F.Muell., 1874 | large boulder orchid | eastern Australia | 0–1,000 metres (0–3,281 ft) | |
Sarcochilus hillii (F.Muell.) F.Muell, 1860 | myrtle bells | Australia and New Caledonia | 0–800 metres (0–2,625 ft) | |
Sarcochilus hirticalcar (Dockrill) M.A.Clem. & B.J.Wallace, 1998 | harlequin orchid | Queensland | 300–650 metres (980–2,130 ft) | |
Sarcochilus iboensis Schltr., 1913 | New Guinea | 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) | ||
Sarcochilus koghiensis Schltr., 1911 | New Caledonia | |||
Sarcochilus odoratus Schltr., 1913 | New Guinea | 200 metres (660 ft) | ||
Sarcochilus parviflorus Lindl., 1838 | southern lawyer orchid, green tree orchid | New South Wales | 600 metres (2,000 ft) | |
Sarcochilus rarus Schltr., 1906 | New Caledonia | |||
Sarcochilus serrulatus D.L.Jones, 1972 | banded butterfly orchid | Queensland | 900–600 metres (3,000–2,000 ft) | |
Sarcochilus spathulatus R.S.Rogers, 1927 | small butterfly orchid | Queensland and New South Wales | 0–600 metres (0–1,969 ft) | |
Sarcochilus thycola (N.Hallé) M.A.Clem., D.L.Jones & D.P.Banks, 2019 | New Caledonia | |||
Sarcochilus tricalliatus (Rupp) Rupp, 1951 | Queensland | 200–800 metres (660–2,620 ft) | ||
Sarcochilus uniflorus Schltr., 1913 | New Guinea | 1,000–2,200 metres (3,300–7,200 ft) | ||
Sarcochilus weinthalii F.M.Bailey, 1903 | blotched butterfly orchid | Queensland and New South Wales | 300–700 metres (980–2,300 ft) | |
The term "sarco" is often used to refer to a number of orchid genera, including Sarcochilus. Most species of Sarcochilus are easily grown but some are very difficult. They need bright light, high humidity and free air movement. [4] [12]
Microtis media, commonly known as the common mignonette orchid, is a species of herbaceous plants of the family Orchidaceae endemic to the south–west of Western Australia. It has a single tubular leaf and up to one hundred small, yellowish green flowers arranged along the flowering stem.
Sarcochilus falcatus, commonly known as the orange blossom orchid, is a small epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has up to eight, leathery leaves with fine teeth on the edges and up to twelve white to cream-coloured flowers with a white labellum that has orange and purple markings.
Rimacola elliptica, commonly known as the green rock orchid or green beaks, is the only species of plant in the orchid genus Rimacola and is endemic to New South Wales. It is an evergreen species which grows in clumps in sandstone cracks and has bright green leaves and in late spring, produces arching flower stems with up to eighteen dull greenish flowers with reddish or brown markings. It only grows near Sydney, mainly in the Blue Mountains and near Fitzroy Falls.
Cyrtostylis reniformis, commonly known as common gnat-orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It usually has a single kidney-shaped leaf and a flowering spike with up to eight reddish flowers with a shelf-like labellum.
Caleana, commonly known as duck orchids, is a genus of flowering plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae that is found in Australia and New Zealand. The Australian species are found in all states but have not been recorded in the Northern Territory. Duck orchids have a single leaf and one or a few, dull-coloured, inconspicuous flowers. Most species are found in Western Australia but one species occurs in eastern Australia and one occurs in eastern Australia and New Zealand. Orchids in this genus as well as the hammer orchids (Drakaea) are pollinated by male thynnid wasps.
Dendrobium aemulum, commonly known as the ironbark feather orchid or white feather orchid, is an epiphytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae and grows on trees that retain their bark, especially ironbarks. It has reddish or purplish pseudobulbs, two to four leathery leaves and up to seven white, feathery flowers. It grows in open forest in Queensland and New South Wales.
Orthoceras strictum, commonly known as the bird's-mouth orchid or horned orchid, is a species of orchid native to eastern and southern Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. It has between two and five linear leaves and up to nine yellowish green, brownish or blackish flowers with two long, erect to spreading lateral sepals.
Prasophyllum alpinum, commonly known as the alpine leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Tasmania. It was formerly described as occurring in mainland Australia but has smaller flowers than the species occurring there. It has a single, tube-shaped leaf and up to fourteen green to greenish-brown flowers and grows in subalpine areas.
Caleana major, commonly known as the large duck orchid, is a small orchid found in eastern and southern Australia. This terrestrial plant features a remarkable flower, resembling a duck in flight. The flower is an attractant to insects, such as male sawflies which pollinate the flower in a process known as pseudocopulation. In 1986 this orchid was featured on an Australian postage stamp.
Pterostylis squamata, commonly known as the southern rustyhood or ruddyhood, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. Flowering plants have up to ten translucent green flowers with reddish-brown markings and a hairy, insect-like labellum. Non-flowering plants have a rosette of four to eight egg-shaped leaves. This species is very similar to Pterostylis rufa which has a narrower labellum and other minor differences.
Pterostylis dubia, commonly known as the blue-tongued greenhood, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Tasmania. It has a rosette of fleshy leaves at its base and a dark green and white flower with narrow petals and a dark blue-green labellum.
Pterostylis rufa, commonly known as the red rustyhood is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a rosette of leaves and up to fifteen bright reddish-brown flowers with translucent white "windows" and a dark brown, insect-like labellum. It occurs from southern Queensland to south-eastern South Australia.
Microtis media subsp. media, commonly known as the common mignonette orchid, is a species of orchid which is endemic to the south–west of Western Australia. It is a common, widespread orchid with a single smooth, tubular leaf and a flowering spike with up to one hundred small green flowers. It differs from Microtis media subsp. densiflora in the shape of its flower spike and the shape of its labellum.
Prasophyllum australe, commonly known as the southern leek orchid or austral leek orchid, is a species of orchid and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single tubular, green leaf and up to fifty scented, greenish-brown flowers with red stripes.
Prasophyllum gibbosum, commonly known as the humped leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a late-flowering leek orchid with a single smooth, tubular leaf and up to eighty or more purplish-red and white flowers with a smooth labellum. It is similar to P. cucullatum but that species has a frilly labellum, usually a shorter flowering stem and an earlier flowering period.
Prasophyllum macrostachyum, commonly known as the laughing leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single smooth, tube-shaped leaf and up to thirty yellowish-green and purple flowers. It is one of the few Western Australian leek orchids which is not stimulated by summer fires and also has an unusually long flowering period.
Spiranthes australis, commonly known as austral ladies tresses, is a species of orchid that grows from southern Caspian Sea and Himalayan Mountains to the South-West Pacific and north throughout Japan. It has up to about ten leaves at the base of a flowering stem with up to sixty small pink and white flowers spirally arranged around it.
Thelymitra media, commonly called the tall sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single fleshy, channelled leaf and up to thirty blue flowers with darker streaks but without spots. The labellum is narrower than the other petals and sepals.
Thelymitra venosa, commonly known as the large veined sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to New South Wales. It has a single fleshy, channelled leaf and up to six relatively large, bright-blue flowers with darker veins. The arms on the side of the column are twisted and yellow, but not toothed at the tip. Unlike most other thelymitras, the flowers do not usually close on cloudy days.
Dendrobium canaliculatum, commonly known as the brown tea tree orchid or thin tea tree orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has cone-shaped or onion-shaped pseudobulbs, up to six deeply channelled, dark green leaves and up to thirty star-shaped, light brown to caramel-coloured white or greenish to apricot-coloured flowers with darker tips. It grows in tropical North Queensland and New Guinea.