Liparis petricola

Liparis petricola, commonly known as the mountain sprite orchid,[2] is a plant in the orchid family and is endemic to Queensland. It is a terrestrial orchid with two or three egg-shaped leaves and between three and fifteen deep reddish purple flowers with a green column. It grows in rainforest in tropical far North Queensland.

Mountain sprite orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Liparis
Species:
L. petricola
Binomial name
Liparis petricola
(D.L.Jones & B.Gray) Bostock [1]
Synonyms[1]

Description

Liparis petricola is a terrestrial herb with three or four underground pseudobulbs. There are two or three thin, dark green pleated, egg-shaped leaves 80–120 mm (3–5 in) long and 40–60 mm (2–2 in) wide with five obvious veins and wavy edges. Between three and fifteen deep reddish purple flowers, 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long and 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) wide are borne on a purplish flowering stem 150–250 mm (6–10 in) long. The dorsal sepal is 9–11 mm (0.4–0.4 in) long, about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide and the lateral sepals are a similar length and about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide with their tips twisted. The petals are also a similar length but only about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. The labellum is egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, a channelled base and irregular edges. It is 8–9 mm (0.31–0.35 in) long and 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide and has a green column. Flowering occurs between October and December.[2][3][4][5]

Taxonomy and naming

The mountain sprite orchid was first formally described in 2006 by David Jones and Bruce Gray who gave it the name Diteilis petricola and published the description in Australian Orchid Research.[6] In 2008, Peter Dundas Bostock changed the name to Liparis petricola.[7] The specific epithet (petricola) is derived from the Ancient Greek word petra meaning "rock" or "stone"[8]:601 and the suffix -cola meaning "dweller" or "inhabitant".[8]:217

Distribution and habitat

Liparis petricola grows in rainforest, often in leaf litter on large granite boulders and is found between Kuranda and the Kirrama National Park.[2][5]

References
  1. "Liparis petricola". 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. 357. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. "Empusa habenarina". trin keys. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  4. Harden, Gwen (ed.) (1993). Flora of New South Wales (Volume 4). Kensington, N.S.W.: New South Wales University Press. p. 226. ISBN 0868401889.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  5. Jones, David L.; Gray, Bruce (2006). "New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research. 6: 74–75.
  6. "Diteilis petricola". APNI. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  7. "Liparis petricola". APNI. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  8. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
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