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Dendrobium lichenastrum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Common button orchid
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Malaxideae
Subtribe: Dendrobiinae
Genus: Dendrobium
Species:
D. lichenastrum
Binomial name
Dendrobium lichenastrum
Synonyms[1]
List of synonyms
  • Bulbophyllum lichenastrum F.Muell.
  • Phyllorkis lichenastrum (F.Muell.) Kuntze
  • Dockrillia lichenastrum (F.Muell.) Brieger
  • Davejonesia lichenastrum (F.Muell.) M.A.Clem.
  • Bulbophyllum prenticei F.Muell.
  • Phyllorkis prenticei (F.Muell.) Kuntze
  • Dendrobium prenticei (F.Muell.) Nicholls
  • Dendrobium variabile Nicholls
  • Dendrobium aurantiacopurpureum Nicholls
  • Dendrobium lichenastrum f. aurantiacopurpureum (Nicholls) Dockrill
  • Dendrobium lichenastrum f. prenticei (F.Muell.) Dockrill
  • Dendrobium lichenastrum var. prenticei (F.Muell.) Dockrill
  • Davejonesia aurantiacopurpurea (Nicholls) M.A.Clem.
  • Davejonesia prenticei (F.Muell.) M.A.Clem.

Dendrobium lichenastrum, commonly known as the common button orchid,[2] is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid endemic to far north Queensland. It has a creeping, branching rhizome surrounded by papery bracts, small egg-shaped to round, fleshy, dark green leaves and a single white, cream-coloured or pink flower with red stripes and an orange labellum.

Description

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Dendrobium lichenastrum is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb with creeping, branching rhizomes that are 1 mm (0.04 in) in diameter, covered with papery bracts and form a spreading mat over the substrate. The leaves are egg-shaped to almost round, 4–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide and lie flat on the surface. A single white, cream-coloured or pink flower with red stripes on a thin pedicel up to 15 mm (0.6 in) long appears from a leaf base. The flower is resupinate, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) wide and has a prominent orange labellum. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped, erect, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and about 2.5 mm (0.1 in) wide. The lateral sepals are triangular, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide and spread widely apart from each other. The petals are linear in shape, a similar length to the sepals but much narrower. The labellum is oblong, about 7 mm (0.3 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and fleshy with thickened edges. Flowering occurs sporadically throughout the year.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

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The common button orchid was first formally described in 1901 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name Bulbophyllum lichenastrum and published the description in Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae from a specimen collected by John Dallachy near Rockingham Bay.[4][5] In 1905 Robert Allen Rolfe changed the name to Dendrobium lichenastrum.[6] The specific epithet (lichenastrum) is derived from the Ancient Greek words leichen meaning "a lichen"[7]: 475  and astron meaning "a star".[7]: 478 

Distribution and habitat

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Dendrobium lichenastrum grows on rocks, cliffs and trees in rainforest between Mount Finnigan and Mackay.[2][3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Dendrobium lichenastrum". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. ^ 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. 385. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. ^ a b D.L.Jones; T.Hopley; S.M.Duffy (2010). "Factsheet - Davejonesia lichenastrum". Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Bulbophyllum lichenastrum". APNI. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  5. ^ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1869). Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. Vol. 7. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. p. 60. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  6. ^ "Dendrobium lichenastrum". APNI. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  7. ^ a b Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.