Arthrochilus laevicallus

Arthrochilus laevicallus is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family (Orchidaceae) and is endemic to Papua New Guinea. It is leafless but has up to seven green, insect-like flowers with dark reddish glands on its labellum.

Arthrochilus laevigatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Arthrochilus
Species:
A. byrnesii
Binomial name
Arthrochilus byrnesii

Description

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Arthrochilus laevicallus is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herb with an underground tuber which produces daughter tubers on the end of root-like stolons. It lacks leaves but has between four and seven green, insect-like flowers on a flowering stem 105–175 mm (4–7 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is strap-shaped to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, about 11 mm (0.4 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The lateral sepals are strap-shaped but curved, about 8.5 mm (0.33 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The petals are curved linear, 8 mm (0.31 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and curved. The petals and lateral sepals turn backwards against the ovary. The labellum is about 6 mm (0.2 in) long and 1.5 mm (0.06 in) and held above the flower. The callus is about 3 mm (0.1 in) long with its central part covered with short, bristly hair-like glands. Flowering occurs in January.[2]

Taxonomy and naming

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Arthrochilus laevicallus was first formally described in 2011 by Paul Ormerod from a specimen collected near Tarara on the Wassi Kussa River in the west of Papua New Guinea. The description was published in The Orchadian.[1][3]

Distribution and habitat

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This elbow orchid grows in wet flats in forest in New Guinea.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Arthrochilus laevicallus". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. ^ a b "Arthrochilus laevicallus". Orchids of New Guinea. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Holotype of Arthrochilus laevigatus". JSTOR. Retrieved 28 April 2018. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)