Dendrobium macropus

Dendrobium macropus, commonly known as the Norfolk Island cane orchid,[2] is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Norfolk Island. It has cylindrical pseudobulbs, thin, dark green leaves and between five and ten yellowish green flowers that do not open widely.

Norfolk Island cane 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. macropus
Binomial name
Dendrobium macropus
(Endl.) Rchb.f. ex Lindl. (1858)[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Thelychiton macropus Endl.
  • Callista macropus (Endl.) Kuntze
  • Dendrobium drake-castilloi Kraenzl.
  • Tropilis drake-castilloi (Kraenzl.) Rauschert

Description

Dendrobium macropus is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with cylindrical, yellowish green, cane-like pseudobulbs 150–350 mm (6–10 in) long and 8–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide. There are between three and six narrow lance-shaped leaves on the end of the pseudobulb. The leaves are 70–150 mm (3–6 in) long and 10–25 mm (0.4–1 in) wide. Between five and ten fragrant, creamy yellow flowers 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and wide are arranged on a flowering stem 50–100 mm (2–4 in) long. The sepals are about 10 mm (0.4 in) long and 4 mm (0.2 in) wide, the petals a similar length but narrower. The labellum is similar to the petals in size and shape but curved. Flowering occurs between August and October but the flowers are self-pollinating and do not open widely.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

The Norfolk island cane orchid was first described in 1833 by Stephan Endlicher who gave it the name Thelychiton macropus and published the description in his book Prodromus Florae Norfolkicae.[4][5] In 1858 John Lindley changed the name to Dendrobium macropus based on a discovery by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach.[6][7] The specific epithet (macropus) is derived from the Ancient Greek words makros meaning "long"[8]:494 and pous meaning “foot”,[8]:620 alluding to the relatively long pseudobulb, in contrast to that of Dendrobium brachypus described by Endlicher at the same time.[3]

Distribution and habitat

Dendrobium macropus occurs on Australia's external territory of Norfolk Island in the Tasman Sea. It grows on trees and rocks in humid forests.[2][3]

Culture

This orchid featured on a postage stamp issued in Fiji in 1997.[9]

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References
  1. "Dendrobium macropus". 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. 406. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. " Dendrobium macropus ". Flora of Australia Online: Data derived from Flora of Australia Volume 49 (1994). Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS). Retrieved 2014-02-13.
  4. "Thelychiton macropus". APNI. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  5. Endlicher, Stephan (1833). Prodromus Florae Norfolkicae. New York. pp. 33–34. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  6. "Dendrobium macropus". APNI. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  7. Lindley, John (1859). "The Orchidology of India". Journal of the proceedings of the Linnean Society. Botany. 3: 9. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  8. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  9. "Stamp: Dendrobium macropus". Colnect, connecting collectors. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
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