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 
| |
| 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
editArthrochilus 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
editArthrochilus 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
editThis elbow orchid grows in wet flats in forest in New Guinea.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b "Arthrochilus laevicallus". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- ^ a b "Arthrochilus laevicallus". Orchids of New Guinea. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ "Holotype of Arthrochilus laevigatus". JSTOR. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
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