Dendrobium convexum

Dendrobium convexum, commonly known as the piggyback orchid,[2] is an epiphytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has a creeping, brittle root, erect pseudobulbs with a single leaf on the top and one or two cream-coloured, short-lived flowers with a red and yellow labellum. It is native to Southeast Asia, New Guinea and tropical North Queensland, Australia.

Piggyback orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Dendrobieae
Subtribe: Dendrobiinae
Genus: Dendrobium
Species:
D. convexum
Binomial name
Dendrobium convexum
Synonyms[1]

Description

Dendrobium convexum is an epiphytic herb with a brittle root about 3 mm (0.1 in) thick creeping over the surface of rough-barked trees. Shiny pseudobulbs 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) long and 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) wide arise at well-spaced intervals along the root, each on a thin stalk about 10 mm (0.4 in) long. There is a single dark green leaf 50–80 mm (2–3 in) long and 15–18 mm (0.59–0.71 in) wide on the end of the pseudobulb. One or two cream-coloured flowers 12–15 mm (0.47–0.59 in) wide appear at the base of the leaf on a pedicel 5 mm (0.2 in) long. The dorsal sepal is 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long and about 4 mm (0.16 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long and the petals are linear, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. The labellum is yellow with a red centre, about 11 mm (0.43 in) long and 4 mm (0.2 in) wide and has three lobes. Flowering occurs sporadically and the flowers open for less than a day.[2][3][4][5]

Taxonomy and naming

The piggyback orchid was first formally described in 1825 by Carl Ludwig Blume who gave it the name Desmotrichum convexum.[6] He published the description in his book Bijdragen tot de flora van Nederlandsch Indië.[6][7] In 1831, John Lindley changed the name to Dendrobium convexum.[8] The specific epithet (convexum) is a Latin word meaning "arched outward" or "protuberant".[9]

Distribution and habitat

Dendrobium convexum grows in mangroves, humid areas of scrub, forest and rainforest mainly on rough-barked trees. It occurs in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, New Guinea and on the Cape York Peninsula as far south as Innisfail, Australia.[2][3][4]

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References
  1. "Dendrobium convexum". 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. 377. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. "Abaxianthus convexus". Trin keys: Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  4. "Dendrobium convexum". Orchids of New Guinea. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  5. Seidenfaden, Gunnar; Wood, Jeffrey J.; Holttum, Richard Eric (1992). The orchids of peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Published in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew & Botanic Gardens, Singapore [by] Olsen & Olsen. pp. 357–359. ISBN 8785215244.
  6. "Desmotrichum convexum". APNI. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  7. Blume, Carl Ludwig (1825). Bijdragen tot de flora van Nederlandsch Indië (Volume 7). Batavia. p. 331. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  8. "Dendrobium convexum". APNI. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  9. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 139.
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