Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids
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Dockrillia × grimesii

Hybrid Pencil Orchid

Dockrillia × grimesii (C.T.White & Summerh.) Rauschert, Feddes Repert. 94(7-8): 446 (1983).

Dendrobium grimesii C.T.White & Summerh., Bull. Misc. Inform. 3: 106 (1934). Type: Lake Barrine, near Atherton, Aug. 1932, B.D. Grimes s.n. (holo K; iso BRI).

Distribution

Occurs in north-eastern Queensland on the Atherton Tableland.

Altitude: above 1000 m.

Description

Epiphytic or lithophytic herb forming small semi-pendulous clumps. Stems semi-erect to pendulous, sparsely branched, 0.4 cm thick, yellowish, hard. Leaf terminal on stem, erect to pendulous, sessile; lamina terete or subterete, 10-15 cm x 0.8-0.9 cm, dark green, fleshy, grooved, apex obtuse, often curved. Inflorescence an axillary raceme, 4-7 cm long, from node near leaf base; pedicels 8-15 mm long. Flowers 6-12, non-resupinate, porrect to nodding, star-shaped, 20 mm x 25 mm, white, cream or pinkish with a few purple markings. Sepals and petals remaining partly closed or spreading widely, very narrow, apices acuminate. Dorsal sepal obliquely erect, narrowly triangular, 25-28 mm x 3 mm. Lateral sepals narrowly triangular, 25-28 mm x 3 mm, bases fused to column foot. Petals linear, 25-28 mm x 1.5 mm. Labellum curved, 18 mm x 4 mm, 3-lobed; lateral lobes triangular, with purple stripes; midlobe recurved, apex filiform. Column 2-3 mm long. Column foot 3-4 mm long, at right-angles to column. Capsules porrect to pendulous, dehiscent.

Ecology

This plant is a rare natural hybrid between D. nugentii and D. calamiformis. It has been found on exposed rainforest trees above 1000 m altitude, growing in close proximity to the parent species.

Flowering period: April-August.

Name Changes

Until recently known as Dendrobium × grimesii.

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