| Pigeon orchid | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Genus: | Dendrobium |
| Species: | D. crumenatum |
| Binomial name | |
| Dendrobium crumenatum | |
| Synonyms | |
List
| |
Dendrobium crumenatum, commonly called pigeon orchid, or 木石斛 (mu shi hu) is an epiphytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is native to Asia, Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Christmas Island. It has two rows of leaves along its pseudobulb and relatively large but short-lived, strongly scented white flowers. It usually grows in exposed positions in lowland rainforest and coastal scrub.
Description
Dendrobium crumenatum produces upright, sympodial, pseudobulbs 300–700 mm (10–30 in) long and 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) wide that are swollen at the first three or four lower nodes. The middle portion of the pseudobulb has two rows of leathery, oblong to egg-shaped leaves 50–80 mm (2–3 in) long and 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) wide. Top portion of the pseudobulb bears pure white flowers 30–40 mm (1–2 in) long and wide. The dorsal sepal and petals are 15–18 mm (0.6–0.7 in) long and 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide, the lateral sepals slightly longer and wider. The labellum is 20–24 mm (0.8–0.9 in) long and 13–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) wide with three lobes. The side lobes are erect and the middle lobe is rounded with five yellow ridges. Flowering is sporadic but is triggered nine days after a sudden drop in temperature of at least 5.5 °C (40 °F), usually as a result of rain, although the same effect can be artificially created. The flowers are fragrant, but the scent lasts only for one day. Joseph Arditti describes the flowering as "gregarious". All the flower buds in a geographic area will bloom on the same day, for exactly one day, none early, none late.
Taxonomy and naming
Dendrobium crumenatum was first formally described in 1799 by Olof Swartz and the description was published in Heinrich Schrader's Journal für die Botanik. The specific epithet (crumenatum) is derived from the Latin word crumena meaning "leather moneybag".
Distribution and habitat
The pigeon orchid usually grows in exposed locations, often in lowland rainforest or coastal scrub. It is found in India, Indochina, Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, and Christmas Island. It is reportedly naturalized in Fiji, Hawaii, the West Indies and the Seychelles.
References
- ^ "Dendrobium crumenatum". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 383. ISBN 1877069124.
- ^ "Dendrobium crumenatum". Flora of China. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- The Orchids of the Philippines, J.Cootes 2011
- Arditti, Joseph, ed. (1990). Orchid Biology: Reviews and Perspectives. Vol. 5. Portland Oregon: Timber Press. p. 21.
- Swartz, Olof (1799). "Dianome Epidendri generis". Journal für die Botanik. 4: 237. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- "Dendrobium crumenatum". Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 117.
- Orchidiana Philippiniana vol1 Valmayor 1984
External links
Media related to Dendrobium crumenatum at Wikimedia Commons
- Dendrobium
- Orchids of Asia
- Orchids of Malaya
- Orchids of Oceania
- Orchids of Australia
- Orchids of India
- Orchids of Indonesia
- Orchids of Malaysia
- Orchids of New Guinea
- Orchids of Papua New Guinea
- Orchids of the Philippines
- Orchids of Taiwan
- Flora of Christmas Island
- Flora of Indo-China
- Flora of the Indian subcontinent
- Plants described in 1799