Saccolabiopsis armitii

Saccolabiopsis armitii, commonly known as the spotted pitcher orchid,[2] is an epiphytic orchid from the family Orchidaceae. It has a short stem, coarse, wiry roots, between three and six crowded, curved leaves and up to fifty yellowish green flowers with red markings and a white labellum. It usually grows in coastal scrub to rainforest in New Guinea and tropical North Queensland, Australia.

Saccolabiopsis armitii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Saccolabiopsis
Species:
S. armitii
Binomial name
Saccolabiopsis armitii
Synonyms[1]
  • Sarcochilus armitii F.Muell.
  • Cleisostoma armitii (F.Muell.) F.M.Bailey
  • Saccolabium armitii (F.Muell.) Rupp
  • Cleisostoma nugentii F.M.Bailey
  • Cleisostoma orbiculare Rupp
  • Saccolabium orbiculare (Rupp) Rupp

Description

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Saccolabiopsis armitii is an epiphytic herb with a single main growth, coarse wiry roots and a stem 20–50 millimetres (0.79–2.0 in) long. There are between three and six crowded, curved leaves 30–60 millimetres (1.2–2.4 in) long and 10–12 millimetres (0.39–0.47 in) wide with a prominent midrib on the lower surface. Between twenty and fifty cup-shaped, resupinate, yellowish green flowers with red markings 5–7 millimetres (0.20–0.28 in) long and 3–5 millimetres (0.12–0.20 in) wide are arranged on a pendulous flowering stem 50–90 millimetres (2.0–3.5 in) long. The dorsal sepal is about 2 millimetres (0.079 in) long, 1 millimetre (0.039 in) wide and the lateral sepals are a similar width but longer. The petals are about 1 millimetre (0.039 in) long and wide. The labellum is white, about 2 millimetres (0.079 in) long and 1 millimetre (0.039 in) wide with three lobes and a red anther. The side lobes are triangular and the middle lobe is short and rounded. Flowering occurs from September to December.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

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The spotted pitcher orchid was first formally described in 1875 by Ferdinand von Mueller and given the name Sarcochilus armitii. The description was published in Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae.[5][6] In 1886, Frederick Manson Bailey changed the name to Saccolabiopsis armitii.[7] The specific epithet (armitii) honours William Armit who collected the type specimen.[8]

Distribution and habitat

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Saccolabiopsis armitii grows in coastal scrub and rainforest up to 150 kilometres (93 mi) from the coast. It is found in New Guinea and in Queensland between Weipa and Bundaberg.[2][3][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Saccolabiopsis armitii". 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. pp. 444–445. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. ^ a b D.L.Jones; T.Hopley; S.M.Duffy (2010). "Factsheet - Saccolabiopsis armitii". Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Saccolabiopsis armitii". Orchids of New Guinea. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Sarcochilus armitii". APNI. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  6. ^ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1875). Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. Vol. 9. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. p. 49. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Saccolabiopsis armitii". APNI. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Armit, William Edington de Margrat (1848 - 1901)". Australian National Herbarium. Retrieved 2 January 2019.