Common name: rock orchid
Dendrobium speciosum var. speciosum Sm. APNI* Synonyms: Thelychiton speciosus (Sm.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones APNI*
Thelychiton epiphyticus D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. APNI*
Description: Epilith or rarely epiphyte with stems erect to spreading, succulent, thickest near base and tapering markedly towards apex, rooting only at the base, 8–40 cm long, 20–60 mm diam., with 2–5 leaves at apex; roots smooth, creeping.
Leaves spreading to erect, elliptic to oblong, 4–25 cm long, 20–80 mm wide, conduplicate, thickly leathery, smooth.
Inflorescences 20–70 cm long, 20–115-flowered. Sepals and lateral petals white to deep dull yellow; dorsal sepal 20–40 mm long, 3–6 mm wide; labellum white to deep dull yellow, finely dotted and striped with dark purple, 9–13 mm long, 9–13 mm wide. Column 4–6 mm long; column foot 5–8 mm long.
Flowering: August–October
Distribution and occurrence: Usually grows on rocks in sclerophyll forest, particularly on sandstone, occasionally on rainforest trees; chiefly in coastal districts south from Bulahdelah, inland to upper Hunter Valley.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, CT, CWS
Other Australian states: Vic.
Text by P. H. Weston
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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