Gastrodia queenslandica

Gastrodia queenslandica, commonly known as rainforest bells,[2] is a leafless terrestrial mycotrophic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has one or two small, yellowish brown, tube-shaped flowers on a thin, brittle flowering stem and grows in rainforest in tropical north Queensland, Australia.

Rainforest bells
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Gastrodieae
Genus: Gastrodia
Species:
G. queenslandica
Binomial name
Gastrodia queenslandica
Dockrill[1]
Synonyms[1]

Description

Gastrodia queenslandica is a leafless terrestrial, mycotrophic herb that has a thin, fleshy, brittle, light brown flowering stem bearing one or two yellowish brown, tube-shaped flowers that are orange-coloured inside. The sepals and petals are joined, forming a tube about 10 mm (0.4 in) long with spreading tips. The tube is rough on the outside and orange-coloured and smooth inside. The labellum is about 5.5 mm (0.2 in) long, 3 mm (0.1 in) wide and completely enclosed in the tube. Flowering occurs from November to January.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Gastrodia queenslandica was first formally described in 1964 by Alick William Dockrill who published the description in The North Queensland Naturalist.[1][4] In 2004, David Jones and Mark Clements changed the name to Demorchis queenslandica but the change has not been accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Rainforest bells grows in near coastal rainforest between the Russell River and the McIlwraith Range but is rarely seen.[2][3]

Conservation

This orchid is classed as "near threatened" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.[6]

References
  1. "Gastrodia queenslandica". 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. 368. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. "Demorchis queenslandica". Trin keys: Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  4. "Gastrodia queenslandica". APNI. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  5. "Demorchis queenslandica". APNI. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  6. "Species profile - Demorchis queenslandica (Orchidaceae)". Queensland Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
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