Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids
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Oxysepala windsorensis

Thread-tipped Rope Orchid

Oxysepala windsorensis (B.Gray & D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem., Orchadian 13(11): 500 (2002).

Bulbophyllum windsorenseB.Gray & D.L.Jones, Austrobaileya 3(1): 143-146, f.3, 4B (1989). Type: Queensland. Cook District: S.F.R. 144, Parish of Whypalla, Bower Bird L.A., 16°14’S, 143°00’E, 1220 m, 15 Jun 1981, B. Gray 4503 (holo QRS, iso BRI, NSW).

Distribution

Occurs in north-eastern Queensland on Mount Windsor Tableland, and on Mount Lewis, inland from Port Douglas.

Altitude: 1000-1250 m.

Description

Epiphytic herb forming sparse clumps. Stems few, sparsely branched, erect to pendulous, 10-30 cm long, sheathed in brown bracts. Roots from basal nodes and stem branches, wiry. Pseudobulbs appressed to stem, obovate to cylindrical, 0.5-0.8 cm x 0.4-0.5 cm wide, partly covered by bracts. Leaf solitary on pseudobulb, erect, apical, sessile; lamina narrowly elliptic to oblong, 1.2-3 cm x 0.4-0.6 cm wide, dark green, thick, fleshy, broadly and deeply grooved, apex acute. Inflorescence axillary, single-flowered, erect, solitary or in pairs, 4-6 mm long, from perennial meristem at base of pseudobulb. Flowers solitary, resupinate, erect to nodding, star-shaped, 10-13 mm x 12-15 mm, cream to greenish cream. Sepals and petals fleshy; sepal apices long, filiform. Dorsal sepal narrowly triangular, 9-12 mm x 3.5-4.5 mm. Lateral sepals narrowly triangular, 9-12 mm x 3.5-4.5 mm, inner margins basally fused, bases fused to column foot. Petals obovate, 2-3 mm x 1.5 mm. Labellum unlobed, fleshy, 2-2.5 mm x 1.6-2 mm, curved in semi-circle. Column 1-1.2 mm long. Column foot 1.5-1.8 mm long, curved in a semi-circle. Capsules unknown.

Ecology

Occurs in rainforests growing on upper branches of trees on ridgetops where there is free air movement, often on large trees of Stringybark Cypress Pine (Callitris macleayana).

Highly localised.

Flowering period: May-August.

Name Changes

Until recently known as Bulbophyllum windsorense.

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