Leporella

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Fringed hare orchid
Fringed Hare Orchid.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Subtribe: Megastylidinae
Genus: Leporella
A.S.George   [1]
Species:
L. fimbriata
Binomial name
Leporella fimbriata
Synonyms [2]
  • Leptoceras fimbriataLindl.
  • Caladenia fimbriata(Lindl.) Rchb.f.
  • Eriochilus fimbriatus(Lindl.) F.Muell.
  • Leptoceras pectinataLindl.
  • Caladenia fimbriata var. pectinata(Lindl.) Rchb.f.

Leporella fimbriata, commonly known as hare orchid or fringed hare orchid, is the only species in the flowering plant genus Leporella in the orchid family, Orchidaceae and is endemic to the southern Australia mainland. It is related to orchids in the genus Caladenia but has an unusual labellum and does not have hairy leaves. Its pollination mechanism is also unusual.

Contents

Description

Leporella fimbriata is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herb with a few inconspicuous, fine roots and an oval-shaped tuber lacking a protective sheath. The tuber produces two "droppers" which become the daughter tubers in the following year. Unlike those in some other orchids, the droppers are produced well away from the parent tuber at the end of long, root-like stolons. There are one or two egg-shaped to lance-shaped, glabrous leaves at the base of the stem. The leaves are often small when the orchid flowers, but increase in size to 40 mm (2 in) long and 20 mm (0.8 in) wide, turning bluish-green with reddish veins as they mature. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

There are up to three resupinate flowers on the end of a wiry stem 10–25 cm (4–10 in) high. The flowers are 1–3 cm (0.4–1 in) long and 1 cm (0.4 in) wide. The dorsal sepal is dished, 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and curves over the labellum. The two lateral sepals are about the same length but very narrow and turned back against the ovary. As is usual in orchids, one petal is highly modified as the central labellum. The other two petals are erect, 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long, narrow, linear in shape but with a club-like end which has many glandular hairs. The labellum is about 5 mm (0.2 in) long and 10 mm (0.4 in) wide, hairy and greenish with reddish-brown spots and a comb-like fringe. There are no obvious calli on the labellum. The sexual parts of the flower are fused to the column, which has wing-like structures on its sides. Flowering occurs from March to June but the remains of the flower are often recognisable as late as September. The fruit is a non-fleshy, glabrous, dehiscent capsule containing a large number of seeds. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Labelled image Leporella labelled.001.jpg
Labelled image

Taxonomy and naming

This orchid was first formally described in 1840 by John Lindley who gave it the name Leptoceras fimbriata and published the description in A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony . [8] [9] In 1971, Alex George described the genus Leporella and included this species. [10] [11]

The genus name "Leporella" is derived from the Latin word lepus meaning "hare" [12] :393 with the diminutive suffix meaning -ella, hence "leporella" meaning "little hare". [5] [12] :490 The specific epithet "fimbriata" is a Latin word meaning "fringed". [12] :355

Distribution and habitat

Leporella fimbriata usually grows in woodland or shrubland but is also found in heath and near areas that are swampy in winter. It is found in the western half of Victoria, and across southern South Australia to southern Western Australia. [13] In Western Australia it occurs between Shark Bay in the north and Israelite Bay on the south coast. [3] In South Australia, in the south-east, especially the Yorke Peninsula and Eyre Peninsula, [13] and in the south-west of Victoria, including the Anglesea area and outer Melbourne suburbs. [6]

Ecology

This orchid is a myrmecophyte and is pollinated by a male bull-ant ( Myrmecia urens , Family Formicidae) when the ant attempts to copulate with the labellum. [5] [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Caladenia</i> Genus of orchids

Caladenia, commonly known as spider orchids, is a genus of 350 species of plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Spider orchids are terrestrial herbs with a single hairy leaf and a hairy stem. The labellum is fringed or toothed in most species and there are small projections called calli on the labellum. The flowers have adaptations to attract particular species of insects for pollination. The genus is divided into three groups on the basis of flower shape, broadly, spider orchids, zebra orchids and cowslip orchids, although other common names are often used. Although they occur in other countries, most are Australian and 136 species occur in Western Australia, making it the most species-rich orchid genus in that state.

<i>Caladenia longicauda</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia longicauda is a species of plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is distinguished by its large leaf and by its up to five large, white flowers which have drooping sepals and petals with long, thickish brown "tails".

<i>Pheladenia</i> Genus of orchids

Pheladenia deformis, commonly known as blue fairy orchid or blue beard is the only species of the flowering plant genus Pheladenia in the orchid family, Orchidaceae and is endemic to Australia. It was originally named as Caladenia deformis and has since had several name changes. Plants have a single, narrow, hairy leaf and usually blue flowers with relatively short, broad sepals and petals and an unusual labellum.

<i>Pyrorchis</i> Genus of flowering plants

Pyrorchis, commonly known as beak orchids, is a genus of flowering plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae and is endemic to Australia. It contains two species which were previously included in the genus Lyperanthus, also known as beak orchids. Both species have fleshy, oval leaves and form colonies which flower profusely after bushfires.

<i>Spiculaea</i> Genus of orchids

Spiculaea is a genus of plants defined by a single species, Spiculaea ciliata, commonly known as elbow orchid, and allied to the family Orchidaceae. Endemic to the south-west of Western Australia, the species is unusual in a number of respects; it grows in shallow soil on granite rock outcrops, grows and flowers in the hottest months of the year and has a unique method of using thynnid wasps as pollinators.

<i>Caleana</i> Genus of flowering plants

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.

Myrmecia urens is a species of ant in the genus Myrmecia found in Australia.

<i>Praecoxanthus</i> Genus of orchids

Praecoxanthus aphyllus, commonly known as leafless orchid, is the only species of the flowering plant genus Praecoxanthus in the orchid family, Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Plants in flower lack a true leaf, although those plants that are not flowering do possess a green leaf. This species is one of the first orchids to flower each year and its creamy white, fragrant flower easily distinguishes it from other species.

<i>Drakaea thynniphila</i> Species of orchid endemic to Western Australia

Drakaea thynniphila, commonly known as narrow-lipped hammer orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south–west of Western Australia. It is pollinated by a single species of male thynnid wasp using sexual deception. The orchid's labellum is similar in shape and scent to a flightless female thynnid wasp. It is one of the more common drakaeas and is easily distinguished from the other species. The tiny lumps on its leaf along with the long flower that lacks a swollen labellum are diagnostic.

<i>Caladenia longicauda <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> borealis</i> Subspecies of orchid

Caladenia longicauda subspecies borealis, commonly known as daddy-long-legs spider orchid is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single hairy leaf and up to three mostly white flowers with long, drooping sepals and petals.

<i>Caladenia abbreviata</i> Species of orchid endemic to Western Australia

Caladenia abbreviata, commonly known as the coastal spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, hairy leaf and up to three pale, creamy-yellow flowers on a flowering stem up to 35 cm (10 in) high. Although the flowers have long, thread-like petals and sepals, they are shorter and darker than those of other spider orchids. It is a rare, relatively recently discovered species although often found near human activities.

<i>Caladenia attingens</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia attingens, commonly known as mantis orchid, is a species of flowering plants in the orchid family Orchidaceae and are endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. There are three subspecies, each of which has a single hairy leaf and one or two brightly coloured flowers with upswept sepals and a labellum with long, comb-like fringes. The subspecies differ in size, distribution and habitat.

Caladenia bicalliata subsp. bicalliata, commonly known as the limestone spider orchid or dwarf limestone spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is native to the south-west of Western Australia and coastal areas of South Australia. It has a single erect, hairy leaf and one or two cream-coloured flowers with reddish-brown tips.

Caladenia bigeminata is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect leaf and one or two white flowers with red markings on a flowering stem up to 25 cm (10 in) tall.

Caladenia graminifolia, commonly known as the grass-leafed spider orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single glabrous leaf and one or two short-lived, greenish-yellow and red flowers which have a narrow labellum with long teeth on its sides.

<i>Caladenia longicauda <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> redacta</i> Subspecies of orchid

Caladenia longicauda subsp. redacta, commonly known as the tangled white spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single hairy leaf and up to three large, mainly white flowers with long, drooping lateral sepals and petals. It is most similar to subspecies eminems but has smaller flowers and shorter teeth on the side of the labellum.

Caladenia longicauda subsp. insularis, commonly known as the island white spider orchid is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single hairy leaf and up to four yellowish-white flowers with long, mostly spreading lateral sepals and petals. It is a relatively rare, self-pollinating subspecies and often flowers which are in bud, open and finished are seen on a single plant.

Caladenia longifimbriata, commonly known as the fringed spider orchid or green-comb spider orchid, is a rare species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, hairy leaf and one or two green, red and white flowers with a long labellum fringe and only occurs in a few scattered populations between Jerramungup and Esperance.

<i>Eriochilus dilatatus</i> Species of orchid

Eriochilus dilatatus, commonly known as the white bunny orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a common and widespread, slender ground orchid with a single leaf and up to fifteen small white and greenish flowers with reddish or brownish markings and a hairy labellum.

<i>Caladenia <span style="font-style:normal;">×</span> cala</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia × cala, commonly known as the wheatbelt spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single hairy leaf and one or two red and white or greenish flowers. A natural hybrid between C.falcata and C. longicauda, it is found between Wongan Hills and Ravensthorpe.

References

  1. A. S. George (1971). "A checklist of the Orchidaceae of Western Australia". Nuytsia . 1 (2): 166–196. doi:10.58828/nuy00003.
  2. "Leporella". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. pp. 216–218. ISBN   9780646562322.
  4. 1 2 "Leporella". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Pridgeon, Alec M.; Cribb, Phillip J.; Chase, Mark W.; Rasmussen, Finn, eds. (2001). Genera Orchidacearum, Volume 2, Orchidoideae (part 1). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. pp. 159–162. ISBN   0198507100.
  6. 1 2 3 "Leporella fimbriata". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria: vicflora. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Leporella". State Herbarium of South Australia: efloraSA. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  8. "Cyanicula". APNI. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  9. Lindley, John (1840). A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony (Appendix). Piccadilly, London: James Ridgway. p. 53. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  10. "Leporella fimbriata". APNI. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  11. George, Alex (1971). "Four new species of Orchidaceae from Western Australia". Nuytsia . 1 (2): 183.
  12. 1 2 3 Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  13. 1 2 "Leporella fimbriata". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  14. Rod Peakall (1989). "The unique pollination of Leporella fimbriata (Orchidaceae): pollination by pseudocopulating male ants (Myrmecia urens, Formicidae)". Plant Systematics and Evolution . 167 (3–4): 137–148. Bibcode:1989PSyEv.167..137P. doi:10.1007/BF00936402. S2CID   27901569.