Dendrobium brachypus

Norfolk Island orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Tribe: Dendrobieae
Genus: Dendrobium
Species: D. brachypus
Binomial name
Dendrobium brachypus
(Endl.) Rchb.f. (1877)[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Callista brachypus (Endl.) Kuntze
  • Thelychiton brachypus Endl. (1833)

Dendrobium brachypus, commonly known as the Norfolk Island orchid, is a flowering plant in the orchid family. The specific epithet comes from the Greek brachys (“short”) and podos (“foot”), alluding to the relatively short pseudobulb, in contrast to that of Dendrobium macropus described by Endlicher at the same time.[1][3]

Description

It is an epiphytic orchid with grouped pseudobulbs growing to 2–5 cm in height. The terminal, ovate-elliptic leaves are 10–12 mm long and 5–10 mm wide. The peloric flowers are pale cream and borne on terminal, 2- or 3-flowered inflorescences.[1]

Distribution and habitat

The species is endemic to the Australian external territory of Norfolk Island in the Tasman Sea, where it occurs in forest on the slopes of Mount Pitt.[1] It is rare and listed as endangered under Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Dendrobium brachypus". Flora of Australia Online: Data derived from Flora of Australia Volume 49 (1994). Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS). Retrieved 2014-02-13.
  2. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. Orchard, A.E. (ed.) (1994). Oceanic Islands 1. Flora of Australia 49: 1-681. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
  4. " Thelychiton brachypus". SPRAT Profile. Department of the Environment: Canberra. 2013-07-16. Retrieved 2014-02-14.


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