Dendrobium convexum, commonly known as the piggyback orchid,[2] is an epiphytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has a creeping, brittle root, erect pseudobulbs with a single leaf on the top and one or two cream-coloured, short-lived flowers with a red and yellow labellum. It is native to Southeast Asia, New Guinea and tropical North Queensland, Australia.
| Piggyback orchid | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Genus: | Dendrobium |
| Species: | D. convexum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Dendrobium convexum | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Description edit
Dendrobium convexum is an epiphytic herb with a brittle root about 3 mm (0.1 in) thick creeping over the surface of rough-barked trees. Shiny pseudobulbs 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) long and 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) wide arise at well-spaced intervals along the root, each on a thin stalk about 10 mm (0.4 in) long. There is a single dark green leaf 50–80 mm (2–3 in) long and 15–18 mm (0.59–0.71 in) wide on the end of the pseudobulb. One or two cream-coloured flowers 12–15 mm (0.47–0.59 in) wide appear at the base of the leaf on a pedicel 5 mm (0.2 in) long. The dorsal sepal is 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long and about 4 mm (0.16 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long and the petals are linear, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. The labellum is yellow with a red centre, about 11 mm (0.43 in) long and 4 mm (0.2 in) wide and has three lobes. Flowering occurs sporadically and the flowers open for less than a day.[2][3][4][5]
Taxonomy and naming edit
The piggyback orchid was first formally described in 1825 by Carl Ludwig Blume who gave it the name Desmotrichum convexum.[6] He published the description in his book Bijdragen tot de flora van Nederlandsch Indië.[6][7] In 1831, John Lindley changed the name to Dendrobium convexum.[8] The specific epithet (convexum) is a Latin word meaning "arched outward" or "protuberant".[9]
Distribution and habitat edit
Dendrobium convexum grows in mangroves, humid areas of scrub, forest and rainforest mainly on rough-barked trees. It occurs in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, New Guinea and on the Cape York Peninsula as far south as Innisfail, Australia.[2][3][4]
References edit
- ^ a b "Dendrobium convexum". 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. 377. ISBN 1877069124.
- ^ a b D.L.Jones; T.Hopley; S.M.Duffy (2010). "Factsheet - Abaxianthus convexus". Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Dendrobium convexum". Orchids of New Guinea. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
- ^ Seidenfaden, Gunnar; Wood, Jeffrey J.; Holttum, Richard Eric (1992). The orchids of peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Published in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew & Botanic Gardens, Singapore [by] Olsen & Olsen. pp. 357–359. ISBN 8785215244.
- ^ a b "Desmotrichum convexum". APNI. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
- ^ Blume, Carl Ludwig (1825). Bijdragen tot de flora van Nederlandsch Indië (Volume 7). Batavia. p. 331. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
- ^ "Dendrobium convexum". APNI. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
- ^ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 139.