Saccolabiopsis rectifolia

Saccolabiopsis rectifolia, commonly known as the tiny pitcher orchid,[2] is an epiphytic orchid from the family Orchidaceae. It has a short stem, thin roots, between three and six crowded leaves and up to fifteen cup-shaped green flowers with a white, purple spotted labellum. It grows on the thinnest outer branches of rainforest trees in tropical North Queensland, Australia.

Tiny pitcher orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Monocots
Order:
Asparagales
Family:
Orchidaceae
Subfamily:
Epidendroideae
Genus:
Saccolabiopsis
Species:
S. rectifolia
Binomial name
Saccolabiopsis rectifolia
(Dockrill) Garay[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Robiquetia rectifolia Dockrill

Description

Saccolabiopsis rectifolia is a tiny epiphytic herb with a single main growth, thin roots and an unbranched stem 1–15 millimetres (0.039–0.59 in) long. There are between three and six crowded, thin, light green to yellowish leaves 15–40 millimetres (0.59–1.6 in) long and 6–10 millimetres (0.24–0.39 in) wide. Between four and fifteen cup-shaped, resupinate green flowers about 3 millimetres (0.12 in) long and 2 millimetres (0.079 in) wide are arranged on a thin flowering stem 20–60 millimetres (0.79–2.4 in) long. The sepals and petals are about 2 millimetres (0.079 in) long and 1 millimetre (0.039 in) wide. The labellum is white with purple spots, about 2 millimetres (0.079 in) long and 1.5 millimetres (0.059 in) wide with a beak-like tip and a nectar bearing spur. Flowering occurs from June to August.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

The tiny pitcher orchid was first formally described in 1967 by Alick William Dockrill and given the name Robiquetia rectifolia. The description was published in Australasian Sarcanthinae.[4] In 1972, Leslie Andrew Garay changed the name to Saccolabiopsis rectifolia.[5] The specific epithet (rectifolia) is derived from the Latin words rectus meaning "straight", "upright", "proper" or "right"[6]:651 and folia meaning "leaves".[6]:466

Distribution and habitat

Saccolabiopsis rectifolia grows on the thinnest outer branches of rainforest trees between the Russell and Johnstone Rivers in Queensland.[2][3]

References
  1. "Saccolabiopsis rectifolia". 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. 446. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. "Saccolabiopsis rectifolia". Trin keys: Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  4. "Robiquetia rectifolia". APNI. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  5. "Saccolabiopsis rectifolia". APNI. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  6. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
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