Lyperanthus suaveolens

Lyperanthus suaveolens, commonly called brown beaks,[1] 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
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
R.Br. (1810)

Description

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.[1] [2]

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first described by Robert Brown in 1810 in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.[3][4] The specific epithet (suaveolens) is derived from the Latin suaveolens meaning "sweet-smelling".[5]

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in woodland areas of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.[1][2]

Use in horticulture

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.[6]

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