Oncophyllum minutissimum

Oncophyllum minutissimum
Rare  (NCA)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Monocots
Order:Asparagales
Family:Orchidaceae
Subfamily:Epidendroideae
Genus:Oncophyllum
Species: O. minutissimum
Binomial name
Oncophyllum minutissimum
(F.Muell.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clements. 2001)[1]

Oncophyllum minutissimum (F.Muell.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.,[2][3] or Red Bead Orchid[4] is a common widespread epiphytic orchid in Australia.

Synonyms: Bulbophyllum minutissimum F. Muell. 1878; Dendrobium minutissimum F.Muell. 1866; Dendrobium nummulifolium R.King 1879; Oncophyllum minutissimum (F.Muell.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. 2001; Phyllorchis minutissima (F.Muell.) Kuntze 1891; Phyllorchis moniliformis (Parish & Rchb. f.) Kuntze 1891; Bulbophyllum moniliforme Par & Rchb.f 1874.[5]

O. minutissimum grows in coastal districts on trees and rocks, along streambanks and in mangroves and in rainforest to dry sclerophyll forest; altitude: sea level to 500 metres. It is said to also occur in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand.[5]

Description: Epiphyte or epilith (a plant that grows on stone or stone-like material) with rhizomes prostrate, 2–4 mm between pseudobulbs. The plant forms a dense mat; pseudobulbs flattened-globose, 2–3 mm diam., smooth.

The pseudobulbs are very small and turn red in strong light.[6] or Red Bead Orchid[7]

Leaves are narrow-triangular about 1 mm long, 0.2–0.3 mm wide, papery, curved and concave. Oval, hairy flowers c. 0.3 cm long, 1-flowered. Whitish to reddish with wide dark red stripes. Labellum red. Ovary hairy.

Flowers: October–November

They possess small hollow pseudobulbs that contain stomata (organs for gas exchange) on their inner surface, which minimizes the surface area and the danger of loss of water by transpiration.[8]

A very similar species is the closely related Oncophyllum globuliforme or Green Bead Orchid, the only other member of the genus Oncophyllum.

References

  1. ↑ "Australian Orchid Genera: Current Species List". Current Species List. Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  2. ↑ D.L.Jones et M.A.Clem., Orchadian 13(9): 421 (2001).
  3. ↑ Current Species List, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra.
  4. ↑ A complete Guide to Native Orchids of Australia, including the island territories, p. 427. David L. Jones. 2006. New Holland Publishers, Frenchs Forest, N.S.W. 2086 Australia. ISBN 1-877069-12-4.
  5. 1 2 The Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ A complete Guide to Native Orchids of Australia, including the island territories, pp. 427-428. David L. Jones. 2006. New Holland Publishers, Frenchs Forest, N.S.W. 2086 Australia. ISBN 1-877069-12-4.
  8. ↑ Lundbergh; et al. (2007). "A closer look at Oncophyllum minutissimum: specialized heterotopic physiological adaptations in reproductive structures". Journal of Evolutionary Botany. 29 (14): 57–71.
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