Dendrobium clementsii, commonly known as the Cape York crimp orchid,[2] is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that is endemic to tropical North Queensland, Australia. It has long stems, tapering pseudobulbs each with a thin, leathery dark green leaf and clusters of short-lived, cream-coloured flowers with a purple labellum.
| Cape York crimp orchid | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Genus: | Dendrobium |
| Species: | D. clementsii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Dendrobium clementsii | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Flickingeria clementsii D.L.Jones | |
Description
editDendrobium clementsii is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb with aerial stems up to 1.0 m (3.3 ft) long. The pseudobulbs are dark green to yellowish and furrowed, decreasing in length and width along the stem from 300 mm (12 in) long and 5 mm (0.20 in) wide. Each pseudobulb has a single thin, leathery, dark green leaf 150–220 mm (5.9–8.7 in) long and 70–100 mm (2.8–3.9 in) wide on the end. Clusters of cream-coloured flowers, 14–20 mm (0.55–0.79 in) long and 20–25 mm (0.79–0.98 in) wide are arranged at the base of the leaves. The sepals are lance-shaped, 10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide and the petals are a similar length but only about 1 mm (0.039 in) wide. The labellum is purple, 13–15 mm (0.51–0.59 in) long, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide and has three lobes. The side lobes are about 8 mm (0.31 in) and have a short fringe. The middle lobe has spreading wavy, hairs about 5 mm (0.20 in) on its tip. Flowering occurs sporadically throughout the year and the flowers last less than a day.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
editThe Cape York crimp orchid was first formally described in 2004 by David Jones who gave it the name Flickingeria clementsii, published in The Orchadian.[4] In 2014, Julian Mark Hugh Shaw changed the name to Dendrobium clementsii.[5]
Distribution and habitat
editThe Cape York crimp orchid grows on rocks and trees in rainforest on the Iron and McIlwraith Ranges on the Cape York Peninsula.[2][3]
References
edit- ^ a b "Dendrobium clementsii". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- ^ 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. 397. ISBN 1877069124.
- ^ a b D.L.Jones; T.Hopley; S.M.Duffy (2010). "Factsheet - Flickingeria clementsii". Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ "Flickingeria clementsii". APNI. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- ^ "Dendrobium clementsii". APNI. Retrieved 3 December 2018.