''Dimorphorchis'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...
s from the orchid family,
Orchidaceae
Orchids are plants that belong to the family (biology), family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Orchids are cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan plants that ...
. It contains 9 species, which are native to Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Solomon Islands, and Brunei.
It is remarkable for its two flower morphs present on the same plant.
Description
Vegetative characteristics
Its species are epiphytic, monopodial herbs with large, pendulous,
[Teoh, E. S., & Teoh, E. S. (2021). ''Dimorphorchis'' Rolfe. Orchid Species from Himalaya and Southeast Asia Vol. 1 (A-E), 465-470.] spreading, or erect
up to 200 cm long stems.
The basal part of the stem bears roots.
[Pridgeon, A. M., Cribb, P. J., Chase, M. W., & Rasmussen, F. N. (2014). Genera Orchidacearum volume 6: Epidendroideae (Part 3). pp. 172–175. OUP Oxford.] The distichously arranged,
coriaceous,
linear
up to 70 cm long leaves
have an unequally bilobed to acute apex.
Generative characteristics
The long,
glabrous
or pubescent,
[Zou, L. H., Huang, J. X., Zhang, G. Q., Liu, Z. J., & Zhuang, X. Y. (2015)]
A molecular phylogeny of Aeridinae (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae) inferred from multiple nuclear and chloroplast regions.
Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 85, 247-254. pendent or erect, racemose or paniculate,
up to 3 metres long inflorescences
bear dimorphic (heteranthous)
or not dimorphic,
bisexual flowers.
[Hutton, R. (2011). ''Dimorphorchis'' – Borneo beauties. The New Zealand Internet Orchid Review, 16, 26. http://www.orchidcouncil.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Issue-16-final.pdf] 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.
The four pollinia with an elliptic viscidium are grouped in two pairs.
It is unknown how the genus is pollinated.
Taxonomy
It was published by
Robert Allen Rolfe
Robert Allen Rolfe (1855, Wilford, Nottinghamshire – 1921, Richmond, London, Richmond, Surrey) was an English botanist specialising in the study of orchids. For a time he worked in the gardens at Welbeck Abbey. He entered Kew in 1879 and became ...
in 1919
[The Orchid review (Vol. 27, Issues 321–322, p. 149). (1893). Orchid Review ltd.]. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/37102243][''Dimorphorchis'' Rolfe. (n.d.). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved December 2, 2024, from https://www.ipni.org/n/29278-1] with ''Dimorphorchis lowii'' (Benth. & Hook. f.) Rolfe as the type species.
[Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.-d). ''Dimorphorchis'' Rolfe. Tropicos. Retrieved December 2, 2024, from http://legacy.tropicos.org/Name/40031513]
Species
It has nine species:
*''
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
''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. It is remarkable for its two fl ...
'' Fowlie
*''
Dimorphorchis tenomensis'' (A.Lamb) P.J.Cribb
Phylogenetic relationships
Within the subtribe
Aeridinae
In the botanical classification of plants, Aeridinae Pfitzer is a subtribe of the tribe Vandeae (Family Orchidaceae) whose representatives all have a monopodial growth habit and do not possess pseudobulbs.
This subtribe is a monophyletic group ...
, it is the sistergroup to ''
Thrixspermum
''Thrixspermum'', commonly known as hairseeds or 白点兰属 (bai dian lan shu), is a genus of flowering plants in the family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus are epiphytes, lithophytes or terrestrial plants with flat, leathery leaves and sho ...
''.
Etymology
The generic name ''Dimorphorchis'' references the characteristic two flower morphs preset within the same plant.
Ecology
Habitat
It can grow as a lithophyte or epiphyte in rainforests.
[Ormerod, P. (2013)]
A new, orange-flowered ''Dimorphorchis'' from Maluku, Indonesia.
Malesian Orchid Journal, 12, 33-37.
References
External links
*
Vandeae genera
Aeridinae
{{Vandeae-stub