Arthrochilus rosulatus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rosetted 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 rosulatus, commonly known as rosetted elbow orchid,[2] is a flowering plant in the orchid family (Orchidaceae) and is endemic to Tropical North Queensland. It has a rosette of bluish green leaves surrounding its base and up to fifteen pale green, insect-like flowers with dark red glands on its labellum.

Description[]

Arthrochilus rosulatus 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 three and four elliptic to lance-shaped leaves surrounding the base of the flowering stem, each leaf 10–35 mm (0.4–1 in) long and 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide. Between two and fifteen pale green, insect-like flowers 8–13 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long are borne on a flowering stem 70–150 mm (3–6 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is linear to egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 7.5–9 mm (0.30–0.35 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and partly wrapped around the base of the column. The lateral sepals are oblong to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 5.5–6.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The petals are linear, 6.5–7.5 mm (0.26–0.30 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and curved. The lateral sepals and petals are turned back against the ovary. The labellum is light green with a dark purplish blotch at its base, about 5 mm (0.2 in) long, 1 mm (0.04 in) wide on a short stalk or "claw". There is an insect-like callus about 3.5 mm (0.1 in) long with short, reddish brown, hair-like glands in a central band. The tip of the callus is about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide with shiny dark reddish or black glands. The column is translucent with a few purplish spots, curved, and has two pairs of curved wings. Flowering occurs from November to July.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming[]

Arthrochilus rosulatus was first formally described in 1991 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Rossville. The description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[5] The specific epithet (rosulatus) is a Latin word meaning "of roses",[6] referring to the leaf rosette surrounding the base of the flowering stem, contrasting with others in the genus that have them on side growth.[3]

Distribution and habitat[]

The rosetted elbow orchid grows in forest in the vicinity of Cooktown, sometimes forming spreading colonies.[2][3][4]

Ecology[]

As with other Arthrochilus orchids, A. rosulatus 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 rosulatus". 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. pp. 152–153. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Jones, David L. (1991). "New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research. 2: 10–11.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b D.L.Jones; T.Hopley; S.M.Duffy (2010). "Factsheet - Arthrochilus rosulatus". . Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Arthrochilus rosulatus". APNI. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  6. ^ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 667.
  7. ^ "Arthrochilus". Australian National Botanic Garden. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
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