Vrydagzynea grayi

Vrydagzynea grayi, commonly known as the tonsil orchid,[2] is a species of orchid that is endemic to a small area in Queensland where it is only known from a single location in dense rainforest. It has between four and seven dark green, egg-shaped leaves and up to twelve white resupinate flowers which barely open. It has not been seen since 1983 and may now be extinct.

Tonsil orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Cranichideae
Subtribe: Goodyerinae
Genus: Vrydagzynea
Species:
V. grayi
Binomial name
Vrydagzynea grayi

Description

Vrydagzynea grayi is a tuberous, perennial herb with between five and seven glossy dark green, egg-shaped leaves, 30–60 mm (1–2 in) long and about 20 mm (0.8 in) wide with wavy edges and arranged in a loose rosette. Between five and twelve resupinate, tube-shaped white flowers about 4 mm (0.2 in) long and which barely open are crowded on a flowering stem 50–70 mm (2–3 in) long. The dorsal sepal and petals overlap and form a hood over the column. The labellum is heart-shaped, about 3.5 mm (0.1 in) long, 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and has a spur with two, more or less spherical, stalked glands about 1 mm (0.04 in) long. Flowering occurs from September to October.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Vrydagzynea grayi was first formally described in 2004 by David Jones and Mark Clements from a specimen collected by Bruce Gray in part of what is now the Daintree National Park. The description was published in The Orchadian.[5] The specific epithet (grayi) honours the collector of the type specimen.[6]

Distribution and habitat

The tonsil orchid grows in dense rainforest in the Daintree National Park.[2][3]

Conservation

Vrydagzynea grayi is only known from an area which has since been cleared prior to listing as a World Heritage national park and is possibly extinct. It is classed as "endangered" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 as Vrydagzynea paludosa and under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.[4]

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References
  1. "Vrydagzynea grayi". 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. 351. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. "Vrydagzynea grayi". Trin keys: Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  4. "Approved Conservation Advice for Vrydagzynea paludosa" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  5. "Vrydagzynea grayi". APNI. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  6. Lavarack, Bill. "Gray, Bruce (1939 - )". Australian National Botanic Garden. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
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