Freak rein orchid
Drawing of H. xanthantha by Lewis Roberts
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Orchideae
Subtribe: Orchidinae
Genus: Habenaria
Species:
H. xanthantha
Binomial name
Habenaria xanthantha

Habenaria xanthantha, commonly known as the freak rein orchid,[2] is a species of orchid that is endemic to far northern Queensland. It has two or three leaves at its base, and up to twenty small white flowers often lacking the nectary spur present on other species in the genus.

Description

Habenaria xanthantha is a tuberous, perennial herb with two or three upright leaves, 50–80 mm (2–3 in) long and 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. Between eight and twenty white flowers, 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long and 10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 150–350 mm (6–10 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is about 6 mm (0.2 in) long, 2.5 mm (0.1 in) wide and with the petals, forms a hood over the column. The lateral sepals are 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long, about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide and spread apart from each other and turn downwards. The petals are similar in size to the lateral sepals. The labellum is 5–7.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide and sometimes has three lobes. When present, the nectary spur is up to 2 mm (0.08 in) long. Flowering occurs from March to April.[2]

Taxonomy and naming

Habenaria xanthantha was first formally described in 1869 by Ferdinand von Mueller and the description was published in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.[3] The specific epithet (xanthantha) is derived from the ancient Greek words xanthos (ξανθός) meaning "yellow" and anthos (ἄνθος) meaning "flower",[4] although no yellow-flowering forms have been seen in the last fifty years.[2]

Distribution and habitat

The freak rein orchid grows in moist to wet woodland on some Torres Strait Islands and on Cape York Peninsula south to Proserpine.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Habenaria xanthantha". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 344. ISBN 978-1877069123.
  3. ↑ "Habenaria xanthantha". APNI. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  4. ↑ Backer, C.A. (1936). Verklarend woordenboek der wetenschappelijke namen van de in Nederland en Nederlandsch-Indië in het wild groeiende en in tuinen en parken gekweekte varens en hoogere planten (Edition Nicoline van der Sijs).
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.