Thelasis capitata

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Conical fly orchid
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Thelasis
Species:
T. capitata
Binomial name
Thelasis capitata
Synonyms [1]

Thelasis ochreata Lindl.

Thelasis capitata, commonly known as the conical fly orchid, [2] is a plant in the orchid family. It is a clump-forming epiphyte with flattened pseudobulbs, each with a single strap-shaped leaf. A large number of small yellowish green flowers are arranged in a cone shape on a thin but stiff flowering stem. This orchid is found from Thailand to Malesia, including on Christmas Island.

Contents

Description

Thelasis capitata is an epiphytic herb with thin roots and flattened pseudobulbs 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long and wide. Each pseudobulb has a single thick, fleshy, dark green, strap-shaped leaf 50–150 mm (2.0–5.9 in) long and 10–18 mm (0.39–0.71 in) wide. A large number of yellowish green resupinate flowers 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long and 2.5–3 mm (0.098–0.12 in) wide are arranged in a conical head on the top of a thin but stiff flowering stem 70–180 mm (2.8–7.1 in) long emerging from the base of the pseudobulb. The flowers open one after the other in a spiral sequence, each flower lasting a few days. The dorsal sepal is about 3 mm (0.12 in) long and 1.5 mm (0.059 in) wide, the lateral sepals about 4 mm (0.16 in) long and 2 mm (0.079 in) wide. The petals are shorter and narrower than the dorsal sepal. The labellum is 4–4.5 mm (0.16–0.18 in) long and about 2.5 mm (0.098 in) wide and curves downwards. Flowering occurs between April and June. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Thelasis capitata was first formally described in 1825 by Carl Ludwig Blume who published the description in Bijdragen tot de flora van Nederlandsch Indië. [4] [5] The specific epithet (capitata) is a Latin word meaning "having a head". [6]

Distribution and habitat

The conical fly orchid usually grows on rainforest trees. It is found in Thailand, Borneo, Java, the Maluku Islands, the Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatra and Christmas Island. [1]

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<i>Spathoglottis plicata</i> Species of plant

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<i>Nervilia concolor</i> Species of orchid

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<i>Thelasis</i> Genus of orchids

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<i>Goodyera rubicunda</i>

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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>Pachystoma pubescens</i> Species of plant

Pachychila pubescens, commonly known as pink kunai orchid or as 粉口兰 , is a plant in the orchid family. It is native to areas from Asia through Southeast Asia to New Guinea and northern Australia. It is a deciduous, terrestrial herb with one or two grass-like leaves and up to ten dull pink, more or less drooping flowers. It grows in wet, grassy places in forests and woodlands.

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

Dendrobium monophyllum, commonly known as the lily-of-the-valley orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has pale green to yellowish pseudobulbs with one or two leaves, and between five and twenty bell-shaped yellow flowers. It grows in rainforest in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia.

Dendrobium convexum, commonly known as the piggyback orchid, is an epiphytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has a creeping, brittle root, erect pseudobulbs with a single leaf on the top and one or two cream-coloured, short-lived flowers with a red and yellow labellum. It is native to Southeast Asia, New Guinea and tropical North Queensland, Australia.

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

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<i>Schoenorchis micrantha</i> Species of orchid

Schoenorchis micrantha, commonly known as the tangled flea orchid, is a small epiphytic orchid that forms small, tangled clumps and has thin stems, many linear leaves and up to thirty small, white, bell-shaped flowers. It is found from Indochina to the south-west Pacific.

Bryobium retusum, commonly known as the Christmas Island urchin orchid, is an epiphytic clump-forming orchid that has oval, fleshy green pseudobulbs, each with two leaves and between seven and twelve short-lived, self-pollinating, pale green, hairy flowers. This orchid is found between Java and New Caledonia.

<i>Thelasis carinata</i> Species of orchid

Thelasis carinata, commonly known as the triangular fly orchid, is a plant in the orchid family. It is a clump-forming epiphyte or lithophyte that lacks pseudobulbs. There are groups of between two and six erect, flattened stems each with up to six leaves that have a ridged lower surface. Up to fifteen green and white flowers are arranged on a thin but stiff flowering stem. This orchid is found from Thailand to the southwest Pacific.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Thelasis capitata". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. 1 2 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 475. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. "Christmas Island Botanical Postage Stamps - Thelasis capitata". Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  4. "Thelasis capitata". APNI. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  5. Blume, Carl Ludwig (1825). Bijdragen tot de flora van Nederlandsch Indië (Part 7). Batavia. pp. 386–387. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  6. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 399.