Gastrodia queenslandica, commonly known as rainforest bells,[2] is a leafless terrestrial mycotrophic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has one or two small, yellowish brown, tube-shaped flowers on a thin, brittle flowering stem and grows in rainforest in tropical north Queensland, Australia.
| Rainforest bells | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Tribe: | Gastrodieae |
| Genus: | Gastrodia |
| Species: | G. queenslandica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Gastrodia queenslandica | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Description
editGastrodia queenslandica is a leafless terrestrial, mycotrophic herb that has a thin, fleshy, brittle, light brown flowering stem bearing one or two yellowish brown, tube-shaped flowers that are orange-coloured inside. The sepals and petals are joined, forming a tube about 10 mm (0.4 in) long with spreading tips. The tube is rough on the outside and orange-coloured and smooth inside. The labellum is about 5.5 mm (0.2 in) long, 3 mm (0.1 in) wide and completely enclosed in the tube. Flowering occurs from November to January.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
editGastrodia queenslandica was first formally described in 1964 by Alick William Dockrill who published the description in The North Queensland Naturalist.[1][4] In 2004, David Jones and Mark Clements changed the name to Demorchis queenslandica but the change has not been accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.[5]
Distribution and habitat
editRainforest bells grows in near coastal rainforest between the Russell River and the McIlwraith Range but is rarely seen.[2][3]
Conservation
editThis orchid is classed as "near threatened" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Gastrodia queenslandica". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- ^ 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. 368. ISBN 1877069124.
- ^ a b D.L.Jones; T.Hopley; S.M.Duffy (2010). "Factsheet - Demorchis queenslandica". Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- ^ "Gastrodia queenslandica". APNI. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
- ^ "Demorchis queenslandica". APNI. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
- ^ "Species profile - Demorchis queenslandica (Orchidaceae)". Queensland Government Department of the Environment. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2018.