Dipodium punctatum, commonly known as the blotched hyacinth-orchid,[2] is a leafless orchid that is a native to eastern and south-eastern continental Australia. In summer it produces a tall flowering stem with up to sixty pale to bright pink flowers with heavy red blotches. A widespread and common species it is often confused with D. roseum and some authorities regard it as a synonym of D. squamatum.
| Blotched hyacinth orchid | |
|---|---|
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| Dipodium punctatum in Bournda National Park | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Genus: | Dipodium |
| Species: | D. punctatum
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| Binomial name | |
| Dipodium punctatum | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Description
editDipodium punctatum is a leafless, tuberous, perennial, mycoheterotrophic herb. Between five and sixty pale to bright pink flowers with heavy red blotches and 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) wide are borne on a green to blackish, hyacinth-like flowering stem 40–100 cm (20–40 in) tall. The sepals and petals are linear to elliptic or lance-shaped, 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) long, 2.5–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and free from each other with their tips sometimes slightly curved backwards. The labellum is 12–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide and has three lobes. The centre lobe has a band of pink to mauve hairs, the band narrow near the base but widening towards the tip of the lobe. Flowering occurs from November to March.[2][3][4]
This orchid is often confused with D. roseum but has a narrower band of labellum hairs, darker blotches and less recurved sepals and petals.[4]
Taxonomy and naming
editThis orchid was first formally described in 1804 by English botanist James Edward Smith in the journal Exotic Botany. Smith gave it the name Dendrobium punctatum.[5] In 1810, Scottish botanist Robert Brown placed the species in his newly described genus Dipodium, publishing the change in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.[1][6] The specific epithet (punctatum) is derived from the Latin word punctum meaning "little hole", "dot" or "point".[7]
The World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) records this species as a synonym of Dipodium squamatum.[8]
Distribution and habitat
editThe blotched hyacinth orchid is common in woodland and forest along the coast and ranges of New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland. It is also widespread in Victoria especially in the east of the state. There are a few records of the species from the far south-east corner of South Australia.[2][3][4][9]
Dipodium punctatum does not occur in Tasmania. Plants in that state previously classified as D. punctatum are currently referred to D. roseum, which was described in 1991.[10][11]
In South Australia, D. punctatum is listed as endangered. Populations currently included within D. roseum and D. campanulatum were originally part of a wider circumscription of D. punctatum in South Australia.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b "Dipodium punctatum". APNI. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
- ^ a b c Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 272. ISBN 1877069124.
- ^ a b Weston, Peter H. "Dipodium punctatum". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
- ^ a b c Jeanes, Jeff. "Dipodium punctatum". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
- ^ "Dendrobium punctatum". APNI. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
- ^ Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Dieman. London. p. 331. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
- ^ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 742.
- ^ "Dipodium punctatum". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- ^ "Dipodium punctatum". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
- ^ Baker M.L.; de Salas, M.F. "A Census of The Vascular Plants of Tasmania - 2012 edition" (PDF). Tasmanian Herbarium, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts.
- ^ Jones, David L. (1998). "Contributions to Tasmanian Orchidology". Australian Orchid Research. 3: 206.
- ^ "Census of South Australian Vascular Plants Edition 5.00" (PDF). Botanic Gardens of Adelaide & State Herbarium. 2005. p. 197.
- Dipodium punctatum Ecology of Cumberland Plain Woodland, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
- Dipodium punctatum ABC
External links
edit
Media related to Dipodium punctatum at Wikimedia Commons- Herbarium specimen of Dendrobium punctatum (The Linnean Society of London)
- Youtube video of D. punctatum
