Trachoma stellatum

Trachoma stellatum, commonly known as the starry spectral orchid,[2] is an epiphytic or lithophytic clump-forming orchid with many thick roots. It has between three and eight thick, leathery leaves and many short-lived, cream-coloured flowers with purple markings and a yellow-tipped labellum. This orchid occurs in tropical North Queensland.

Starry spectral orchid
Illustration by Lewis Roberts
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Monocots
Order:
Asparagales
Family:
Orchidaceae
Subfamily:
Epidendroideae
Genus:
Trachoma
Species:
T. stellatum
Binomial name
Trachoma stellatum
D.L.Jones, B.Gray, M.A.Clem. & J.J.Wood[1]
Synonyms[1]

Description

Trachoma stellatum is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb that forms clumps with many thick roots supporting sometimes branching stems 30–60 millimetres (1.2–2.4 in) long. There are between three and eight thick, leathery, oblong, pale to yellowish green leaves 50–70 millimetres (2.0–2.8 in) long, about 20 millimetres (0.79 in) wide and arranged in two ranks. A large number of short-lived, cream-coloured, resupinate flowers with purple markings, 8–9 millimetres (0.31–0.35 in) long and 4–5 millimetres (0.16–0.20 in) wide are arranged on a club-shaped flowering stem 10–35 millimetres (0.39–1.4 in) long. Up to ten flowers are open at the same time. The sepals and petals are about 5 millimetres (0.20 in) long and 1.5 millimetres (0.059 in) wide. The labellum is about 5 millimetres (0.20 in) long and 4 millimetres (0.16 in) wide with three lobes. The side lobes are erect, fleshy and triangular and the middle lobe is about 1 millimetre (0.039 in) long with a spur about 1.5 millimetres (0.059 in) long. Flowering occurs from March to July.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Trachoma stellatum was first formally described in 1989 by David Jones, Bruce Gray, Mark Clements and Jeffrey Wood and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[1][4] The specific epithet (stellatum) is a Latin word meaning "starred" or "starry".[5]

Distribution and habitat

The starry spectral orchid grows on rainforest trees and in humid places near rainforest edges. It is found between the Iron and McIlwraith Ranges at altitudes from 400 to 600 metres (1,300 to 2,000 ft) in Queensland.[2][3]

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References
  1. "Trachoma stellatum". 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. 458. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. "Trachoma stellatum". Trin keys: Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  4. "Trachoma stellatum". APNI. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  5. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 748.
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