Kingdom Plantae Family Orchidaceae Tribe Dendrobieae Scientific name Cepobaculum semifuscum Rank Species | Order Asparagales Subfamily Epidendroideae Subtribe Dendrobiinae Higher classification Cepobaculum | |
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Cepobaculum semifuscum, Antelope Orchid, or Fragrant Tea Tree Orchid, is a species of Tea Tree Orchid of the genus Cepobaculum, which was segregated in 2002 from the genus Dendrobium.
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Range
It is found in Cape York Peninsula, Queensland from the Iron Range to Cooktown, and on the west coast of the peninsula at 50–550 metres altitude. It is also found in New Guinea.
Description
Common and widespread, this arboreal orchid grows especially on paper-barked or rough-barked trees in open forest, swampy areas and monsoonal thickets. The long-lasting, sweet-smelling flowers (20-30 x 25–40 mm) bloom from July to November. The fragrant flowers yellowish or yellowish-brown, with darker stripes and tips, grow on spikes 300–400 mm long. Labellum purple to mauve with midlobe which is pale yellow to cream. Sepals strongly twisted, thick and shiny. The flowers appear in spring and last well and the petals are distinctively twisted.
The orchid needs good light. It grows well on a slab and needs a dry winter but frequent watering in summer.
C. semifuscum has, apparently, been frequently confused with Cepobaculum johannis. They are, however, easy to tell apart if flowering: C. semifuscum flowers in the spring while C. johannis flowers in the autumn. The former has a delightful scent, while the latter smells unpleasant.