Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids
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Adelopetalum newportii

Cupped Strand Orchid

Adelopetalum newportii (F.M.Bailey) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem., Orchadian 13(11): 498 (2002).

Sarcochilus newportii F.M.Bailey, Queensland fl. 6: 2014 (1902); Bulbophyllum newportii (F.M.Bailey) Rolfe, Orchid Rev. 17: 94 (1909). Type: Queensland, Mt. Alexandra, 20 Nov. 1902, H. Newport 20 (holo BRI).

Bulbophyllum exiguum F.Muell. var. dallachyi Benth., Fl. Austral. 6: 289 (1873). Type: Rockingham Bay, J. Dallachy s.n. (holo K; iso MEL).

Bulbophyllum trilobum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 8: 455 (1910). Type: Broomfield River, E. Bauer s.n. (holo B).

Bulbophyllum wilkianum Hunt, North Queensland Naturalist 14(82): 17 (1947); Adelopetalum wilkianum (T.E.Hunt) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem., Orchadian 13(11): 499 (2002).Type: Mt. Bartle Frere, Sep. 1946, J.H. Wilkie s.n. (holo BRI).

Bulbophyllum wanjurum Hunt, North Queensland Naturalist 14(82): 18 (1947). Type: Mt. Bartle Frere, Sep. 1946, J.H. Wilkie s.n. (holo BRI).

Distribution

Occurs in far north-eastern Queensland on the McIlwraith Range, and from Big Tableland to Eungella.

Altitude: 600-1200 m.

Description

Epiphytic or lithophytic herb forming dense spreading clumps. Rhizome creeping, appressed to host, much branched, 1 mm thick. Pseudobulbs well-spaced, erect, ovoid or conical, 8-15 mm x 8-12 mm, light green, grooved or ribbed. Leaf solitary on pseudobulb, erect, apical, sessile or shortly petiolate; lamina narrowly oblong, narrowly ovate or narrowly obovate, 4-7 cm x 0.8-1.2 cm, dark green, stiff. Inflorescence an axillary raceme, 50-90 mm long, from base of pseudobulb, filiform. Flowers 1-8, resupinate, porrect to nodding, campanulate, 4-6 mm x 4-5 mm, white, cream or greenish, rarely pink. Sepals and petals not widely spreading. Dorsal sepal porrect, hooded, ovate, 5-7 mm x 2.5-3 mm. Lateral sepals broadly triangular, falcate, 5-7 mm x 3-4 mm, bases fused to column foot. Petals smaller than sepals, oblong, 3-3.5 mm x 1.5 mm, apex obtuse or apiculate. Labellum narrow, 5 mm x 1.5 mm, curved, fleshy, base and margins sparsely hairy, yellow. Column porrect, 1.5 mm long. Column foot at right-angles to column, 3 mm long. Capsules erect, dehiscent.

Ecology

Grows on trees and rocks in rainforests and open forests at medium to high elevations, usually in humid situations where there is ample air movement, sometimes in relatively exposed positions. Plants can form extensive mats across the surfaces on which they occur.

Widespread and common.

Flowering period: September-December.

Name Changes

Until recently known as Bulbophyllum newportii.

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