Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Peristylus chlorandrellus

Green Ogre Orchid

Peristylus chlorandrellus D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem., Orchadian 14(8): Suppl. x-xi (2004). Type: Queensland. Stewart Creek, Portion 24, Parish of Whyanbeel, 16 July 1983, B. Gray 3160 (holo QRS).

Distribution

Occurs in north-eastern Queensland from McIlwraith Range to Ingham.

Altitude: 0-350 m.

Description

Terrestrial herb with erect habit. Tubers 2, ovoid, 2-4 cm long, fleshy. Leaves 4-7, prostrate, forming a loose rosette midway along the stem, whorled, sessile, bases sheathing stem; lamina narrowly ovate, 9-17 cm x 2.5-3 cm, dark green, succulent, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescence a terminal spike, erect, 100-600 mm long; ovaries erect, held close to stem on pedicels, 7-12 mm long. Flowers 6-36, resupinate, porrect, 8-10 mm x 6-7 mm, green. Dorsal sepal ovate, obliquely erect, forming galea with petals, 2.5-3 mm x 1.5-1.8 mm. Lateral sepals free, widely divergent, porrect, narrowly triangular, falcate, 2.5-3 mm x 1.5 mm. Petals asymmetric, ovate, 3-3.5 mm x 2 mm, apex obtuse or emarginate. Labellum 4-4.5 mm x 7-8 mm, deeply 3-lobed; lateral lobes at 40° to midlobe, 4.5-5 mm x 0.5 mm, very narrow, tapered, incurved or apex curled; midlobe decurved, 2 mm x 1.5 mm. Spur elongate, decurved, 6-8 mm x 1 mm, apex widest. Column 1 mm long, porrect from end of ovary. Column foot absent. Capsules erect, dehiscent.

Ecology

Occurs in rainforests in shady situations, growing in well-drained soil or among accumulated leaf litter. The plants are above-ground for a long period and die back to the tubers soon after flowering.

Localised.

Flowering period: May-July.

Name Changes

Until recently confused with Peristylus papuana which is from New Guinea. Also wrongly known as Habenaria papuana.

More about Peristylus