Sarcochilus falcatus

Sarcochilus falcatus, commonly known as the orange blossom orchid,[2] is a small epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has up to eight, leathery leaves with fine teeth on the edges and up to twelve white to cream-coloured flowers with a white labellum that has orange and purple markings.

Illustration by Sarah Drake from Edwards's Botanical Register[3]

Orange blossom orchid
Sarcochilus falcatus in the Lamington National Park
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Sarcochilus
Species:
S. falcatus
Binomial name
Sarcochilus falcatus
Synonyms[1]

Description

Sarcochilus falcatus is a small epiphytic or lithophytic herb with a stem 40–80 mm (2–3 in) long with between three and eight leathery, often curved leaves 60–160 mm (2–6 in) long and 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in) wide with fine teeth on the edges. Between three and twelve white to cream-coloured, fragrant flowers 20–30 mm (0.79–1.2 in) long and wide are arranged on an arching flowering stem 70–180 mm (2.8–7.1 in) long. The sepals and petals are egg-shaped, spread widely apart from each other and are 10–16 mm (0.39–0.63 in) long and 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. The labellum is white with orange and purple markings, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long with three lobes. The side lobes are erect, about 7 mm (0.3 in) long and 5 mm (0.2 in) wide and the middle lobe is short and fleshy. Flowering occurs between June and October.[2][4][5][6]

Taxonomy and naming

Sarcochilus falcatus was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown who published the description in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.[7][8] It was the first species of Sarcochilus to be described and is therefore the type species. The specific epithet (falcatus) is a Latin word meaning "sickle-shaped" or "curved",[9] referring to the shape of the leaves.[10]

Distribution and habitat

The orange blossom orchid grows on trees but sometimes on rocks, usually in places exposed to air movement, clouds and drizzly weather. It grows in the Cedar Bay National Park in Queensland and south to the coast and nearby tablelands of New South Wales. It rarely occurs in the far north-eastern corner of Victoria.[2][4][5]

Conservation

This orchid is classed as "endangered" under the Victorian Government Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.[5]

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References
  1. "Sarcochilus falcatus". 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. 4489. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. Lindley, John (1836). "Sarcochilus falcatus". Edwards's Botanical Register. 9. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  4. Weston, Peter H. "Sarcochilus falcatus". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  5. Jeanes, Jeff. "Sarcochilus falcatus". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  6. "Sarcochilus falcatus". Trin keys: Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  7. "Sarcochilus dilatatus". APNI. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  8. Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen, exhibens characteres plantarum. London. p. 332. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  9. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 710.
  10. Irwin, Mathew. "Sarcochilus falcatus". Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
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