Arthrochilus oreophilus

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Montane elbow orchid
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Arthrochilus
Species:
A. oreophilus
Binomial name
Arthrochilus oreophilus

Arthrochilus oreophilus, commonly known as montane elbow orchid,[2] is a flowering plant in the orchid family (Orchidaceae) and is endemic to higher places in far north Queensland. It has a rosette of leaves at its base and up to fifteen green, insect-like flowers with dark reddish brown glands on its labellum.

Description[]

Arthrochilus oreophilus is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herb with an underground tuber that produces daughter tubers on the end of root-like stolons. It has a rosette of between two and five lance-shaped leaves at its base, each leaf 20–45 mm (0.8–2 in) long and about 10–18 mm (0.4–0.7 in) wide. Between two and fifteen insect-like flowers 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long are borne on a fleshy, dark reddish brown flowering stem 80–200 mm (3–8 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is spatula-shaped to egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 9–10 mm (0.35–0.39 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide, folded lengthwise and wrapped around the base of the column. The lateral sepals are lance-shaped but curved, 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and turn downwards towards the ovary. The petals are linear, curved, about 7 mm (0.3 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and turned backwards against the ovary. The labellum is about 6 mm (0.2 in) long and pale green with a dark purple base. There is an insect-like callus about 3.5 mm (0.1 in) long with dark reddish brown, hair-like glands in a central band on the labellum. The column is green with purplish spots, curved, about 7 mm (0.3 in) long with two curved wings above and below it. Flowering occurs from November to January.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming[]

Arthrochilus oreophilus was first formally described in 1991 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Herberton. The description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[5] The specific epithet (oreophilus) is derived from the Ancient Greek words oros meaning "mountain" or "hill"[6]: 537  and philos meaning "beloved" or "dear",[6]: 498  referring to the habitat preference of this orchid.[3]

Distribution and habitat[]

The montane elbow orchid grows in woodland in forest on the ranges and tablelands at altitudes above 1,000 m (3,000 ft) between the Cedar Bay National Park and the Evelyn Tableland. It is most common on the Atherton Tableland.[2][3]

Ecology[]

As with other Arthrochilus orchids, A. oreophilus is pollinated by male thynnid wasps of the genus although the species involved is not known. It also reproduces asexually by producing new tubers.[7]

References[]

  1. ^ "Arthrochilus oreophilus". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 152. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Jones, David L. (1991). "New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research. 2: 9–10.
  4. ^ D.L.Jones; T.Hopley; S.M.Duffy (2010). "Factsheet - Arthrochilus oreophilus". . Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Arthrochilus oreophilus". APNI. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  7. ^ "Arthrochilus". Australian National Botanic Garden. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
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