Hetaeria oblongifolia

Hetaeria oblongifolia, commonly known as the hairy jewel orchid,[2] is a species of orchid that is native to Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Queensland. It has between four and eight egg-shaped, dark green leaves and up to forty five small, hairy green and white flowers with a deep pouch near the base of the labellum.

Hairy jewel orchid
Flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Cranichideae
Genus: Hetaeria
Species:
H. oblongifolia
Binomial name
Hetaeria oblongifolia
Synonyms[1]

Description

Hetaeria oblongifolia is a tuberous, perennial herb with a loose rosette of between four and eight dark green, egg-shaped leaves, 50–80 mm (2–3 in) long and 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) wide. Between fifteen and forty five non-resupinate, hairy green and white flowers, 4–4.5 mm (0.16–0.18 in) long and 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide are borne on a hairy flowering stem 150–300 mm (6–10 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped, about 3.5 mm (0.1 in) long, 2.5 mm (0.1 in) wide and forms a hood over the column. The lateral sepals are about 4 mm (0.2 in) long, 2.2 mm (0.09 in) wide and project forwards. The petals are about 4 mm (0.2 in) long, 1.3 mm (0.05 in) wide and turn inwards near their tip. The labellum is white with a yellow patch, about 3.5 mm (0.1 in) long, 2.5 mm (0.1 in) wide with inrolled edges and a deep pouch at its base. Flowering occurs from July to October.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Hetaeria oblongifolia was first formally described in 1825 by Carl Ludwig Blume and the description was published in Bijdragen tot de Flora van Nederlandsch Indie.[5] The specific epithet (oblongifolia) is derived from the Latin words oblongus meaning "elongated" and folium meaning "leaf".[6]

Distribution and habitat

The hairy jewel orchid usually grows on sheltered slopes in rainforest and near streams. It is found in Indonesia, Malaysia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, Thailand, Vanuatu and in Queensland between the Iron Range National Park and Rockhampton.[2][3]

  • Group of flowering individuals on Niue.
  • A single flowering individual on Niue.
  • Top view of leaves.
  • Inflorescence.
  • Inflorescence closeup.

References
  1. "Hetaeria oblongifolia". 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. pp. 348–349. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. "Hetaeria oblongifolia". Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  4. "Hetaeria oblongifolia". Flora of China. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  5. "Hetaeria oblongifolia". APNI. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  6. Backer, C.A. (1936). Verklarend woordenboek der wetenschappelijke namen van de in Nederland en Nederlandsch-Indië in het wild groeiende en in tuinen en parken gekweekte varens en hoogere planten (Edition Nicoline van der Sijs).
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