Pale chandelier orchid
Illustration of Acriopsis emarginata by Lewis Roberts
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Acriopsis
Species:
A. emarginata
Binomial name
Acriopsis emarginata

Acriopsis emarginata, commonly known as the pale chandelier orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Queensland. It is a clump-forming epiphyte with dark green leaves and curved, branching flower stems with many white and cream-coloured flowers.

Description

Acriopsis emarginata is an epiphyte which forms dense clumps with the pseudobulbs surrounded by thin white roots. The pseudobulbs are pale green and onion-like, 30–70 mm (1–3 in) long and 30–40 mm (1–2 in) wide. There are between two and four dark green, leathery, narrow egg-shaped leaves which are 150–200 mm (6–8 in) long and 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) wide. Wiry, branching flower stems 200–600 mm (8–20 in) long bear large numbers of cream-coloured to pinkish flowers which are 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide and have a white, three-lobed, triangular labellum. Each flower has a thread-like pedicel 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long. The dorsal sepal is linear to oblong, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long, about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and the lateral sepals are fused to form a boat shape 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long, about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide below the labellum. The petals are linear to egg-shaped with similar dimensions to the lateral sepals. The labellum is 4.5 mm (0.2 in) long, about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide and has three lobes. The lateral lobes are broadly triangular and the middle lobe is short with two prominent calli. Flowering mainly occurs from June to November.[3][4][5]

Taxonomy and naming

Acriopsis emarginata was first formally described in 2006 by David Jones and Mark Clements from a specimen collected in the Daintree River valley and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[6] The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek words akris meaning "grasshopper"[7]: 380  and opsis meaning "appearance" or "aspect",[7]: 313  referring to the grasshopper-like appearance of the column.[8] The specific epithet (emarginata) is a Latin word meaning "notched at the apex",[7]: 562  referring to the notch on the labellum callus.[4]

This species was formerly included with Acriopsis javanica but Australian plants are more robust with larger pseudobulbs and leaves and more highly branched flowering stems.[4][9]

Distribution and habitat

The pale chandelier orchid is widespread and common in tropical Queensland from Cape York to the Daintree River. It grows near the crown of trees, palms and Pandanus.[4]

Conservation status

Acriopsis emarginata is listed as "vulnerable" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.[1][10]

Use in horticulture

Easy to grow, but needs water all year round, high humidity, and warmth (not below 10 °C). Can be grown on a slab or in a small pot with a coarse mix.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Acriopsis emarginata — Pale Chandelier Orchid". environment.gov.au. Australian Government - Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  2. ↑ "Acriopsis emarginata". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  3. 1 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. 460. ISBN 1877069124.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Jones, David L.; Clements, Mark A. (2006). "New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research. 5: 3–4.
  5. ↑ "Approved Conservation Advice for Acriopsis javanica" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  6. ↑ "Acriopsis emarginata". APNI. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  8. ↑ Quattrocchi, Umberto (2014). CRC world dictionary of medicinal and poisonous plants. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. p. 69. ISBN 9781482250640.
  9. ↑ D.L.Jones; T.Hopley; S.M.Duffy (2010). "Factsheet - Acriopsis emarginata". Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  10. ↑ "Species profile—Acriopsis emarginata (pale chandelier orchid)". Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
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