Dendrobium mirbelianum, commonly known as the dark-stemmed antler orchid[2] or mangrove orchid,[3] is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has cylindrical, dark-coloured pseudobulbs with leathery, dark green leaves and up to twelve pale to dark brown flowers with a yellow labellum with dark red veins. This antler orchid occurs in northern Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia.
| Dark-stemmed antler orchid | |
|---|---|
| |
| In Palau | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Genus: | Dendrobium |
| Species: | D. mirbelianum
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| Binomial name | |
| Dendrobium mirbelianum | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Description edit
Dendrobium mirbelianum is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb with cylindrical, dark blackish brown pseudobulbs 0.2–1.0 m (0.7–3 ft) long and 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) wide and is leafy in its upper half. The leaves are dark green, tinged with brown or dark red, 80–150 mm (3–6 in) long and 30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 in) wide. The flowering stem is 100–300 mm (4–10 in) long and bears between four and twelve pale to dark brown flowers 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) long and 30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 in) wide. The sepals and petals are sometimes twisted and sometimes remain closed, 25–30 mm (0.98–1.2 in) long, and 7–9 mm (0.28–0.35 in) wide. The labellum is yellow with red veins, about 30 mm (1 in) long and 20 mm (0.8 in) wide with three lobes. The side lobes curve upwards and the middle lobe has wavy edges and three ridges along its midline. Flowering occurs mainly from August to November but sporadically in other months. Some plants have widely opening flowers and are insect pollinated while others are self-pollinated and open slowly or not at all.[2][3][4][5]
Taxonomy and naming edit
Dendrobium mirbelianum was first formally described in 1829 by Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré in his Voyage Autour du Monde ... sur les Corvettes de S.M. l'Uranie et la Physicienne.[6][7] The specific epithet (mirbelianum) honours the French botanist and politician Charles-François Brisseau de Mirbel.[6]
Distribution and habitat edit
The dark-stemmed antler orchid grows in trees, especially mangroves, in coastal swamps and sometimes on rocks. It occurs on the Maluku Island in Indonesia, in New Guinea including the Bismark Archipelago, the Solomon Islands and on Moa Island and between the Daintree and Innisfail in Queensland.[2][4][3]
Conservation edit
This orchid is classed as "endangered" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992. The main threat to the species is land clearing for agriculture.[3][8]
References edit
- ^ a b "Dendrobium mirbelianum". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- ^ a b c Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 395. ISBN 1877069124.
- ^ a b c d "Approved Conservation Advice for Dendrobium mirbelianum" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ a b "Dendrobium mirbelianum". Orchids of New Guinea. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ D.L.Jones; T.Hopley; S.M.Duffy (2010). "Factsheet - Durabaculum mirbelianum". Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- ^ a b Gaudichaud-Beaupré, Charles (1829). Voyage autour du monde; entrepris par ordre du roi... exécuté sur les corvettes de S.M.l'Uranie et la Physicienne, pendant les années 1817, 1818, 1819 et 1820. Paris. p. 423. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ "Dendrobium mirbelianum". APNI. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ "Species recovery". Queensland Government Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. Retrieved 27 November 2018.