Adenochilus

Adenochilus, commonly known as gnome orchids[3] is a genus of two species of flowering plants in the orchid family Orchidaceae, one endemic to New Zealand and the other to Australia. Both species have a long, horizontal, underground rhizome with a single leaf on the flowering stem and a single resupinate flower with its dorsal sepal forming a hood over the labellum and column.

Gnome orchids
Adenochilus gracilis near Makarora in New Zealand
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Subtribe: Caladeniinae
Genus: Adenochilus
Hook.f.[1]
Type species
Adenochilus gracilis[2]

Description

Orchids in the genus Adenochilus are terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herbs with a long, thin, horizontal underground rhizome and a single leaf either on a long stalk or attached to the flowering stem. When present, there is a single resupinate flower on the end of the flowering stem. The dorsal sepal is free and forms a hood over the labellum and column. The lateral sepals and petals are free from each other, longer and narrower than the dorsal sepal, and spread widely apart. The labellum is also free, attached at the base of the column by a short stalk or "claw". The labellum is curved and has a narrow central band of yellow calli.[3][4][5][6]

Taxonomy and naming

The genus Adenochilus was first formally described in 1853 by Joseph Dalton Hooker and the description was published in Flora Novae-Zelandiae.[2][7] Hooker described A. gracilis in the same publication, making it the type species.[1] The name Adenochilus is derived from the Ancient Greek words aden meaning "gland"[8]:69 and cheilos meaning "lip",[8]:200 referring to the labellum calli of these two species.[6]

Distribution and habitat

Adenochilus gracilis Hook.f. is widespread in New Zealand where it often grows in deep leaf litter under beech trees and sometimes near wetlands. It is found on both the North and South Islands and on Stewart and Chatham Islands.[9][10]

Adenochilus nortonii Fitzg. has a restricted distribution in New South Wales, growing at altitudes of 400–1,000 m (1,300–3,300 ft) in the Blue Mountains, Barrington Tops and Point Lookout areas, often growing under Antarctic beech trees.[3][11]

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See also

References
  1. "Adenochilus ". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. "Adenochilus". APNI. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  3. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 266. ISBN 1877069124.
  4. Pridgeon, Alec M. (ed.); Cribb, Phillip J. (ed.); Chase, Mark W. (ed.); Rasmussen, Finn N. (ed.) (2001). Genera Orchidacearum. Volume 2, Orchidoideae (part 1). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. pp. 86–87. ISBN 0198507100.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  5. Bernhardt, Peter J. "Genus Adenochilus". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  6. "Adenochilus". Australian National Botanic Garden. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  7. Hooker, Joseph Dalton (1853). The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. discovery ships Erebus and Terror. II. Flora Novae-Zelandiae. London: Lovell Reeve and Co. pp. 246–247. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  8. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  9. "Adenochilus gracilis". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  10. "Adenochilus gracilis". New Zealand Native Orchid Group. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  11. Bernhardt, Peter J. "Adenochilus nortonii". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
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