Acriopsis emarginata
| Pale chandelier orchid | |
|---|---|
| |
| Illustration of Acriopsis emarginata by Lewis Roberts | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Genus: | Acriopsis |
| Species: | A. emarginata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Acriopsis emarginata | |
Acriopsis emarginata, commonly known as the pale chandelier orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Queensland. It is a clump-forming epiphyte with dark green leaves and curved, branching flower stems with many white and cream-coloured flowers.
Description[edit]
Acriopsis emarginata is an epiphyte which forms dense clumps with the pseudobulbs surrounded by thin white roots. The pseudobulbs are pale green and onion-like, 30–70 mm (1–3 in) long and 30–40 mm (1–2 in) wide. There are between two and four dark green, leathery, narrow egg-shaped leaves which are 150–200 mm (6–8 in) long and 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) wide. Wiry, branching flower stems 200–600 mm (8–20 in) long bear large numbers of cream-coloured to pinkish flowers which are 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide and have a white, three-lobed, triangular labellum. Each flower has a thread-like pedicel 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long. The dorsal sepal is linear to oblong, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long, about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and the lateral sepals are fused to form a boat shape 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long, about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide below the labellum. The petals are linear to egg-shaped with similar dimensions to the lateral sepals. The labellum is 4.5 mm (0.2 in) long, about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide and has three lobes. The lateral lobes are broadly triangular and the middle lobe is short with two prominent calli. Flowering mainly occurs from June to November.[3][4][5]
Taxonomy and naming[edit]
Acriopsis emarginata was first formally described in 2006 by David Jones and Mark Clements from a specimen collected in the Daintree River valley and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[6] The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek words akris meaning "grasshopper"[7]: 380 and opsis meaning "appearance" or "aspect",[7]: 313 referring to the grasshopper-like appearance of the column.[8] The specific epithet (emarginata) is a Latin word meaning "notched at the apex",[7]: 562 referring to the notch on the labellum callus.[4]
This species was formerly included with Acriopsis javanica but Australian plants are more robust with larger pseudobulbs and leaves and more highly branched flowering stems.[4][9]
Distribution and habitat[edit]
The pale chandelier orchid is widespread and common in tropical Queensland from Cape York to the Daintree River. It grows near the crown of trees, palms and Pandanus.[4]
Conservation status[edit]
Acriopsis emarginata is listed as "vulnerable" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.[1][10]
Use in horticulture[edit]
Easy to grow, but needs water all year round, high humidity, and warmth (not below 10 °C). Can be grown on a slab or in a small pot with a coarse mix.[3]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Acriopsis emarginata — Pale Chandelier Orchid". environment.gov.au. Australian Government - Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Acriopsis emarginata". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- ^ a b Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 460. ISBN 1877069124.
- ^ a b c d Jones, David L.; Clements, Mark A. (2006). "New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research. 5: 3–4.
- ^ "Approved Conservation Advice for Acriopsis javanica" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "Acriopsis emarginata". APNI. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ a b c Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
- ^ Quattrocchi, Umberto (2014). CRC world dictionary of medicinal and poisonous plants. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. p. 69. ISBN 9781482250640.
- ^ D.L.Jones; T.Hopley; S.M.Duffy (2010). "Factsheet - Acriopsis emarginata". Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ "Species profile—Acriopsis emarginata (pale chandelier orchid)". Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science. Retrieved 3 August 2021.