Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids
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Grastidium tozerense

White Gemini Orchid

Grastidium tozerense (Lavarack) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones, Lasianthera, 1(1): 18 (1996).

Dendrobium tozerensis Lavarack, Austrobaileya 1: 70, f. 5 (1977). Type: Tozer’s Gap, Cape York Peninsula, 11 Aug. 1975, P.S. Lavarack 990 (holo & iso BRI).

Distribution

Occurs in far north-east Queensland in the McIlwraith Range, Tozer Range and Iron Range.

Altitude: 300-500 m.

Description

Epiphytic or lithophytic herb forming large clumps. Stems crowded, erect to pendulous, thin, 20-60 cm x 0.2 cm wide, wiry. Leaves scattered along stem, erect to pendulous, distichous, sessile, bases sheathing stem and covering node; lamina linear to lanceolate, 5-8 cm x 6-8 mm, light green, apex unequally emarginate. Inflorescence an axillary raceme, emerging opposite a leaf; pedicels 5 mm long. Flowers 2, resupinate, porrect to nodding, star-shaped, 30-35 mm x 30-35 mm, white. Sepals and petals widely spreading, thin-textured, apices acuminate. Dorsal sepal narrowly triangular, 12-15 mm x 2 mm. Lateral sepals widely divergent, narrowly triangular, falcate, 12-15 mm x 2 mm, bases fused to column foot. Petals spreading, narrowly triangular, 12-15 mm x 2 mm. Labellum 7-10 mm x 4 mm, sparsely hairy, 3-lobed; lateral lobes erect, triangular, obtuse; midlobe with single central crest, sparsely hairy, margins incurved, crinkled, apex obtuse. Column 4-5 mm long. Column foot straight, 2-2.5 mm long. Capsules pendulous, dehiscent.

Ecology

Occurs in rainforests, growing on rocks and trees. It is also found growing on large boulders in rockpile vegetation and on trees and cliffs near waterfalls.

Highly localised.

Flowering period: Sporadic throughout the year.

Name Changes

Until recently known as Dendrobium tozerensis.

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