Kingdom Plantae Family Orchidaceae Genus Oncophyllum Rank Species | Order Asparagales Subfamily Epidendroideae Scientific name Oncophyllum minutissimum | |
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Oncophyllum minutissimum (F.Muell.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem., or Red Bead Orchid is a common widespread epiphytic orchid in Australia.
Synonyms: Bulbophyllum minutissimum F. Muell. 1878; Dendrobium minutissimum F.Muell. 1866; Dendrobium nummulifolium R.King 1879; Oncophyllum minutissimum (F.Muell.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. 2001; Phyllorchis minutissima (F.Muell.) Kuntze 1891; Phyllorchis moniliformis (Parish & Rchb. f.) Kuntze 1891; Bulbophyllum moniliforme Par & Rchb.f 1874.
O. minutissimum grows in coastal districts on trees and rocks, along streambanks and in mangroves and in rainforest to dry sclerophyll forest; altitude: sea level to 500 metres. It is said to also occur in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand.
Description: Epiphyte or epilith (a plant that grows on stone or stone-like material) with rhizomes prostrate, 2–4 mm between pseudobulbs. The plant forms a dense mat; pseudobulbs flattened-globose, 2–3 mm diam., smooth.
The pseudobulbs are very small and turn red in strong light. or Red Bead Orchid
Leaves are narrow-triangular about 1 mm long, 0.2–0.3 mm wide, papery, curved and concave. Oval, hairy flowers c. 0.3 cm long, 1-flowered. Whitish to reddish with wide dark red stripes. Labellum red. Ovary hairy.
Flowers: October–November
It is said to possess small hollow pseudobulbs that contain stomata (organs for gas exchange) on their inner surface. This minimizes the surface area and the danger of loss of water by transpiration.
A very similar species is the closely related Oncophyllum globuliforme or Green Bead Orchid, the only other member of the genus Oncophyllum.