Kingdom Plantae Family Orchidaceae Tribe Diurideae Rank Species | Order Asparagales Subfamily Orchidoideae Subtribe Megastylidinae | |
Similar Lyperanthus, Diuris orientis, Glossodia major, Glossodia, Orthoceras strictum | ||
Lyperanthus suaveolens, commonly called brown beaks, is a species of orchid which is endemic to the eastern states of Australia.
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Description
Lyperanthus serratus is a tuberous, perennial herb, 18–44 cm (7–20 in) high with 2 to 8 yellowish brown, brown or dark reddish brown flowers, about 3 cm (1 in) wide, from August to November. The flowers are sometimes fragrant in warm weather. The single leaf is linear to lance-shaped, 12–26 cm (5–10 in) long and up to 1.2 cm (0.5 in) wide, leathery with a dark upper and pale lower surface.
Taxonomy and naming
The species was first described by Robert Brown in 1810 in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. The specific epithet (suaveolens) is derived from the Latin suāveolens meaning "sweet-smelling" or "fragrant".
Distribution and habitat
The species occurs in woodland areas of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
Horticulture
As with other Australian terrestrial orchids, this species is not well known in cultivation but success has been achieved by growing it in a shadehouse of 50-70% shadecloth.