Dimorphorchis
Genus of plants
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dimorphorchis is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It contains 9 species, which are native to Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Solomon Islands, and Brunei.[2] It is remarkable for its two flower morphs present on the same plant.[3]
.jpg)
| Dimorphorchis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Dimorphorchis rossii | |
_-_Curtis'_90_(Ser._3_no._20)_pl._5475_(1864).jpg) | |
| Botanical illustration of Dimorphorchis lowii | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Tribe: | Vandeae |
| Subtribe: | Aeridinae |
| Genus: | Dimorphorchis Rolfe |
| Type species | |
| Dimorphorchis lowii (Benth. & Hook. f.) Rolfe[1] | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Description
.png)
Vegetative characteristics
Its species are epiphytic, monopodial herbs with large, pendulous,[4] spreading, or erect[5] up to 200 cm long stems.[6] The basal part of the stem bears roots.[5] The distichously arranged,[5][4] coriaceous,[4] linear[5] up to 70 cm long leaves[6] have an unequally bilobed to acute apex.[5]
Generative characteristics
The long,[7] glabrous[5] or pubescent,[5][7] pendent or erect, racemose or paniculate,[5] up to 3 metres long inflorescences[6] bear dimorphic (heteranthous)[3][6] or not dimorphic,[5] bisexual flowers.[6][8] The 2-3 flowers closest to the base of the inflorescence are strongly fragrant, slightly smaller, and of a different colour compared to the rest of the flowers, which are unscented and have wavy petals.[6] The four pollinia with an elliptic viscidium are grouped in two pairs.[5] It is unknown how the genus is pollinated.[5][6]
Taxonomy
It was published by Robert Allen Rolfe in 1919[3][9] with Dimorphorchis lowii (Benth. & Hook. f.) Rolfe as the type species.[1]
Species
It has nine species:[2]
- Dimorphorchis beccarii (Rchb.f.) Kocyan & Schuit.
- Dimorphorchis breviscapa (J.J.Sm.) Kocyan & Schuit.
- Dimorphorchis celebica (Schltr.) Ormerod
- Dimorphorchis graciliscapa (A.Lamb & Shim) P.J.Cribb
- Dimorphorchis lowii (Lindl.) Rolfe
- Dimorphorchis lyonii (Ames) Ormerod
- Dimorphorchis rohaniana (Rchb.f.) P.J.Cribb
- Dimorphorchis rossii Fowlie
- Dimorphorchis tenomensis (A.Lamb) P.J.Cribb
Phylogenetic relationships
Within the subtribe Aeridinae, it is the sistergroup to Thrixspermum.[7]
Etymology
The generic name Dimorphorchis references the characteristic two flower morphs preset within the same plant.[3]
Ecology
Habitat
It can grow as a lithophyte or epiphyte in rainforests.[10]
