Arthrochilus prolixus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wispy 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. prolixus
Binomial name
Arthrochilus prolixus

Arthrochilus prolixus, commonly known as wispy elbow orchid,[2] is a flowering plant in the orchid family (Orchidaceae) and is endemic to eastern Australia. It has a rosette of bluish green leaves at its base and up to twenty two pale green, insect-like flowers with dark reddish to purplish glands on its labellum.

Description[]

Arthrochilus prolixus is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herb with an underground tuber which produces daughter tubers on the end of root-like stolons. It has a rosette of between two and six linear to lance-shaped leaves on a side branch at its base, each leaf 40–70 mm (2–3 in) long and 7–15 mm (0.3–0.6 in) wide. Between three and twenty two pale green, insect-like flowers 10–16 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long are borne on a flowering stem 80–200 mm (3–8 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is linear, 9–10 mm (0.35–0.39 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and partly wrapped around the base of the column. The lateral sepals are lance-shaped, 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The petals are linear, about 7 mm (0.3 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. The lateral sepals and petals are turned back against the ovary. The labellum is about 6 mm (0.2 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide on a stalk or "claw" about 4 mm (0.2 in) long. 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. The tip of the callus is about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide with shiny black glands. The column is light green to whitish with purplish spots, strongly curved, with two pairs of curved wings. Flowering occurs from December to February.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming[]

Arthrochilus prolixus was first formally described in 1991 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Wauchope. The description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[5] The specific epithet (prolixus) is a Latin word meaning "stretched out long",[6] referring to the long labellum calli.[3]

Distribution and habitat[]

The wispy elbow orchid grows with grass and shrubs in forest between Manly in New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland. The largest population is in the Bulahdelah district. One colony has established itself in rotting sawdust at a sawmill.[2][3][4]

Ecology[]

As with other Arthrochilus orchids, A. prolixus 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 prolixus". 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: 10.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Bernhardt, Peter. "Arthrochilus prolixus". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Arthrochilus prolixus". APNI. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  6. ^ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 494.
  7. ^ "Arthrochilus". Australian National Botanic Garden. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
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