Sarcochilus borealis

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Small lawyer orchid
LR069 72dpi Sarcochilus borealis.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: Sarcochilus
Species:
S. borealis
Binomial name
Sarcochilus borealis
Synonyms [1]
  • Sarcochilus olivaceus var. borealis Nicholls

Sarcochilus borealis, commonly known as the small lawyer orchid, [2] is a small epiphytic orchid endemic to Queensland. It has up to six thin but stiff, dark green leaves and up to ten green flowers with a white labellum that has reddish brown markings.

Contents

Description

Sarcochilus borealis is a small epiphytic herb with a stem 10–30 mm (0.4–1 in) long with between two and six thin but stiff dark green leaves 40–80 mm (2–3 in) long and 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) wide. Between two and ten pale green to dark green flowers 16–18 mm (0.6–0.7 in) long and 18–20 mm (0.7–0.8 in) wide are arranged on a flowering stem 60–100 mm (2–4 in) long. The sepal are 8–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide whilst the petals are slightly shorter and narrower. The labellum is white with reddish brown markings, 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide and has three lobes. The side lobes are erect and the middle lobe is smaller with a prominent tooth. Flowering occurs between June and December. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

The small lawyer orchid was first formally described in 1939 by William Henry Nicholls who gave it the name Sarcochilus olivaceus var. borealis and published the description in The North Queensland Naturalist. [4] In 1989 David Jones and Mark Clements raised the variety to species status. [5] The specific epithet (borealis) is a Latin word meaning "northern". [6]

Distribution and habitat

The small lawyer orchid grows on trees and vines in rainforest at altitudes of 800–1,000 m (3,000–3,000 ft) in the Mount Lewis National Park and on the Atherton Tableland. [2] [3]

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Sarcochilus dilatatus, commonly known as the brown butterfly orchid, is a small epiphytic orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has up to twelve, thin, leathery, dark green leaves and up to twelve brown or reddish brown flowers with a mostly white and yellow labellum.

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<i>Sarcochilus serrulatus</i> Species of orchid

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Sarcochilus spathulatus, commonly known as the small butterfly orchid, is a small epiphytic orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single, more or less pendent growth with up to ten thin, leathery leaves and up to five green to dark brown flowers with a cream-coloured labellum that has purple markings.

Sarcochilus weinthalii, commonly known as the blotched butterfly orchid, is a small epiphytic orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has between three and seven thin, leathery, yellowish green leaves and up to twelve cream-coloured flowers with large purple or reddish blotches.

References

  1. 1 2 "Sarcochilus borealis". 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. 448. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 "Sarcochilus borealis". Trin keys: Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  4. "Sarcochilus olivaceus var. borealis". APNI. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  5. "Sarcochilus borealis". APNI. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  6. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 158.