Chiloschista phyllorhiza
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| White starfish orchid | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Genus: | Chiloschista |
| Species: | C. phyllorhiza |
| Binomial name | |
| Chiloschista phyllorhiza | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Chiloschista phyllorhiza, commonly known as the white starfish orchid,[2] is a species of leafless epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that forms small clumps with many radiating, flattened green roots. A large number of short-lived, crystalline white, star-shaped flowers with a yellow labellum are arranged along thin, arching flowering stems. It occurs in northern parts of Australia where it grows in rainforest, swamps and near streams.
Chiloschista phyllorhiza is an epiphytic or lithophytic, leafless herb that forms small clumps with many flattened greenish, photosynthetic roots 100–200 millimetres (3.9–7.9 in) long and 6–10 millimetres (0.24–0.39 in) wide radiating from inconspicuous stems. There is a large number of crystalline white resupinate flowers 10–14 millimetres (0.39–0.55 in) long and wide arranged along a thin, arching flowering stem 50–150 millimetres (2.0–5.9 in) long. The sepals and petals are egg-shaped, 4–6 millimetres (0.16–0.24 in) long, 3–4 millimetres (0.12–0.16 in) wide and spread widely apart from each other. The labellum is yellow, about 2.5 millimetres (0.098 in) long with three lobes. The side lobes are erect and the middle lobe is small and densely hairy. Flowering occurs from November to February but the flowers open sporadically in groups and only last for one or two days.[2][3]