''Sarcochilus argochilus'', commonly known as the northern lawyer orchid, is a small

epiphytic An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...

orchid Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

. It has up to eight thin leaves and up to twelve small bright green to yellowish green flowers with a white labellum.

Description

''Sarcochilus argochilus'' is a small epiphytic

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

with sparsely branched stems long with between two and eight leaves. The leaves are dark green, thin but rigid, oblong, long and wide. Between two and twelve bright green to yellowish green flowers long and wide are arranged on a flowering stem long. The

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...

are long and wide whilst the

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s are shorter and narrower. The labellum is white, long and wide with a few reddish brown markings. The labellum has three lobes, the side lobes erect and the middle lobe with a short tooth. Flowering occurs between June and December.

Taxonomy and naming

''Sarcochilus argochilus'' was first formally described in 2006 by David Jones and Mark Clements and the description was published in ''Australian Orchid Review'' from a specimen collected in the

Eungella National Park Eungella National Park ( ; meaning "Land of the clouds") is a protected area in Queensland, Australia. It is on the Clarke Range at the end of the Pioneer Valley 80 km west of Mackay, and 858 km northwest of Brisbane. Eungel ...

Distribution and habitat

The northern lawyer orchid grows on trees and vines in rainforest and other humid places. It is found in Queensland between the

Mount Lewis National Park Mount Lewis National Park is national park in both the Shire of Mareeba and Douglas Shire of Far North Queensland, Australia. It is adjacent to both Daintree National Park and Mount Spurgeon National Park. It is part of the Wet Tropics of Queen ...

and Toowoomba.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarcochilus argochilus Endemic orchids of Australia Orchids of Queensland Plants described in 2006 argochilus