''Sarcochilus borealis'', commonly known as the small 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 els ...

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 six thin but stiff, dark green leaves and up to ten green flowers with a white labellum that has reddish brown markings.

Description

''Sarcochilus borealis'' 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 medicina ...

with a stem long with between two and six thin but stiff dark green leaves long and wide. Between two and ten pale green to dark 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 ...

are long and wide whilst the

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

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

Taxonomy and naming

The small lawyer orchid was first formally described in 1939 by William Henry Nicholls who gave it the name ''Sarcochilus olivaceus'' var. ''borealis'' and published the description in ''The North Queensland Naturalist''. In 1989 David Jones and Mark Clements raised the variety to species status. The

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

(''borealis'') is a

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power ...

word meaning "northern".

Distribution and habitat

The small lawyer orchid grows on trees and vines in rainforest at altitudes of in 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 on the Atherton Tableland.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarcochilus borealis Endemic orchids of Australia Orchids of Queensland Plants described in 1939 borealis