Aphyllorchis queenslandica

Aphyllorchis queenslandica, commonly known as the yellow pauper orchid,[2] is a leafless terrestrial mycotrophic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has up to twelve dull yellow flowers on a thin, fleshy, purple flowering stem and is endemic to tropical north Queensland where it grows in rainforest.

Yellow pauper orchid
Illustration by Lewis Roberts
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Aphyllorchis
Species:
A. queenslandica
Binomial name
Aphyllorchis queenslandica
Dockrill[1]

Description

Aphyllorchis queenslandica is a leafless, terrestrial mycotrophic herb that has a thin, fleshy purple flowering stem 300–700 mm (10–30 in) long with white flecks. The plants lack true leaves but have colourless, leaf-like bracts on the flowering stem, each bract 5–30 mm (0.2–1 in) long and 6–11 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide with three longitudinal, parallel veins. There are between six and twelve resupinate, dull yellow flowers 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide. The dorsal sepal is 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide, curved and spread widely apart from each other. The labellum is a similar size to the petals, more or less boat-shaped and has three lobes. The middle lobe projects forwards and the side lobes curve upwards. Flowering occurs between May and October.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Aphyllorchis queenslandica was first described in 1965 by Alick William Dockrill from a specimen collected near Helenvale and the description was published in The Orchadian.[4]

Distribution and habitat

The yellow pauper orchid is found between Cooktown and Babinda from close to sea level up to an altitude of about 400 m (1,000 ft). It grows in rainforest, often close to streams.[2][3]

Conservation

This species is listed as "Near threatened" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.[5]

References
  1. "Aphyllorchis queenslandica". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 366. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. "Aphyllorchis queenslandica". Trin keys: Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  4. "Aphyllorchis queenslandica". APNI. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  5. "Nature Conservation (wildlife) amendment regulation (No.1) 2010 No. 92 - sect. 7". Australasian Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
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