Pomatocalpa marsupiale
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Branched bladder orchid | |
|---|---|
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| Illustration by Lewis Roberts | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Genus: | Pomatocalpa |
| Species: | P. marsupiale |
| Binomial name | |
| Pomatocalpa marsupiale | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Pomatocalpa marsupiale, commonly known as branched bladder orchid,[2] is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that forms large clumps. It has many thick roots, branched stems, many strap-like, leathery leaves and up to many upward-facing green flowers with a cream-coloured or yellowish labellum. It usually grows on high on rainforest trees and is found between Sulawesi and tropical North Queensland, Australia.
Pomatocalpa marsupiale is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb forming large clumps with a branched main stem, 200–500 millimetres (7.9–20 in) long and thick roots. There are many leathery, channelled yellowish green leaves, 150–300 mm (5.9–12 in) long and 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) wide with their bases obscuring the stem.
Between fifteen and twenty green flowers, 12–15 mm (0.47–0.59 in) long and wide are borne on each branch of a flowering stem 200–450 mm (7.9–18 in) long. The sepals and petals spread widely apart from each other. The sepals are 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long, about 3 mm (0.12 in) wide and the petals are 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and about 2 mm (0.079 in) wide. The labellum is cream-coloured or yellowish, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide with three lobes. The side lobes curve forwards and the middle lobe is short, thick and fleshy with a pear-shaped spur about 4 mm (0.16 in) long. Flowering occurs from November to May.[2][3][4][5]
Branched bladder orchid is differentiated from the other Australian Pomatocalpa species, P. macphersonii (blotched bladder orchid), by its taller, upright stems, larger leaves, crowded flowers, flower color, and bloom time.[5]