Kingdom Plantae Tribe Neottieae Genus Aphyllorchis Order Asparagales | Family Orchidaceae Subtribe Limodorinae Rank Species | |
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Scientific name Aphyllorchis queenslandica | ||
Aphyllorchis queenslandica, or yellow pauper orchid, is a terrestrial orchid in the genus Aphyllorchis, or pauper orchids.
Description
Aphyllorchis queenslandica is a terrestrial orchid up to about 90 centimetres (35 in) tall. It is endemic to Far North Queensland, Australia. It ranges from close to sea level up to about 400 metres (1,300 ft). The plants lack chlorophyll and live as saprophytes. Bracts or 'leaves' have three longitudinal and parallel veins.
The sepals are about 13 by 2.5 millimetres (0.5 in × 0.1 in) and petals about 11 mm × 2 mm (0.43 in × 0.08 in) The labellum is larger, and cream-coloured with purple upturned margins. The column, composed of the stamen fused to the style, has a purple base, but is yellow towards the top, and is about 7 mm × 1.5 mm (0.28 in × 0.06 in) The ovary is about 12 mm × 2 mm (0.47 in × 0.08 in), with six external longitudinal ribs.
The inflorescence is about 40–70 centimetres (16–28 in) long, and usually has 6–12 flowers about 20 mm (0.8 in) wide on pedicels about 2–3 mm (0.08–0.12 in) long.