Lyperanthus suaveolens

Lyperanthus suaveolens, commonly called brown beaks,[2] is a species of orchid that is endemic to the eastern states of Australia.

Brown beaks
Lyperanthus suaveolens growing in Boonoo Boonoo National Park
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Lyperanthus
Species:
L. suaveolens
Binomial name
Lyperanthus suaveolens
Synonyms[1]
  • Caladenia suaveolens (R.Br.) Rchb.f.
  • Caladenia sulphurea A.Cunn.
  • Leptoceras sulphurea (A.Cunn.) Lindl.
  • Leptoceras sulphureum M.A.Clem. orth. var.

Description

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Lyperanthus suaveolens is a tuberous, perennial herb, 18–44 cm (7–20 in) high with 2 to 8 yellowish brown, brown or dark reddish brown flowers, about 3 cm (1 in) wide, from August to November. The flowers are sometimes fragrant in warm weather. The single leaf is linear to lance-shaped, 12–26 cm (5–10 in) long and up to 1.2 cm (0.5 in) wide, leathery with a dark upper and pale lower surface.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

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The species was first described by Robert Brown in 1810 in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.[4][5] The specific epithet (suaveolens) is derived from the Latin suaveolens meaning "sweet-smelling".[6]

Distribution and habitat

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The species occurs in woodland areas of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.[2][3]

Use in horticulture

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As with other Australian terrestrial orchids, this species is not well known in cultivation but success has been achieved by growing it in a shadehouse of 50-70% shadecloth.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Lyperanthus suaveolens". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Lyperanthus suaveolens". Australian Native Plant Society (Australia). Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  3. ^ a b Bernhardt, P. (1993). "Plantnet: New South Wales flora online". The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Lyperanthus suaveolens". APNI. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  5. ^ Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen, exhibens characteres plantarum. London. p. 325. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  6. ^ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 773.
  7. ^ Nesbitt, Les. "Australia's native orchids". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Retrieved 12 March 2015.