Dendrobium discolor

Dendrobium discolor is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb with cylindrical green or yellowish pseudobulbs {{cvt|1-5|m}} long, {{cvt|30-60|mm}} wide and occasionally over {{cvt|8|cm|sigfig=1}} thick. There are between ten and thirty five leathery leaves {{cvt|60-160|mm}} long and {{cvt|30–80|mm}} wide. The flowering stem is {{cvt|200–600|mm}} long and bears between eight and forty light brown, reddish brown, dark brown or yellowish flowers. The flowers are {{cvt|30-80|mm}} long and wide with wavy and twisted sepals and petals. The sepals are {{cvt|20-35|mm}} long, and {{cvt|4-7|mm}} wide and the petals are {{cvt|20-40|mm}} long and {{cvt|5-8|mm}} wide. The labellum has mauve to purple markings and is {{cvt|12-24|mm}} long and {{cvt|10-15|mm}} wide with three main lobes. The side lobes are large and spread outwards or curve upwards and the middle lobe curves downwards and has at least three ridges and wavy edges. Flowering occurs from April to December.{{cite web |title=Dendrobium discolor |url=http://www.orchidsnewguinea.com/orchid-information/species/speciescode/2377|publisher=Orchids of New Guinea |accessdate=21 November 2018}}{{cite web |author1=F.A.Zich |author2=B.P.M.Hyland |author3=T.Whiffen |author4=R.A.Kerrigan |author2-link=Bernard Hyland |year=2020 |access-date=28 May 2021 |url=http://www.canbr.gov.au/cpbr/cd-keys/RFKOrchids/key/rfkorchids/Media/Html/Durabaculum_undulatum_var._broomfieldii.htm |title=Durabaculum undulatum var. broomfieldii |website=Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants (RFK8) |publisher=Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government}}{{cite book |last1=Lavarack |first1=Peter S. ("Bill") |last2=Harris |first2=Wayne |last3=Stocker |first3=Geoff |title=Dendrobium and its relatives |date=2000 |publisher=Timber Press |location=Portland, Oregon |isbn=0881924903 |page=256}}

Dendrobium discolor was first formally described in 1841 by John Lindley and the description was published in Edwards's Botanical Register.{{cite web|title=Dendrobium discolor|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/504113|publisher=APNI|accessdate=21 November 2018}}{{cite journal |last1=Lindley |first1=John |title=Miscellaneous notes |journal=Edwards's Botanical Register |date=1841 |volume=27 |page=21 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/9064#page/231/mode/1up |accessdate=21 November 2018}} The specific epithet (discolor) is a Latin word meaning "of different colours" or "variegated".{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Roland Wilbur|title=The Composition of Scientific Words|date=1956|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.|page = 270}}

The following subspecies and varieties are accepted by Plants of the World Online as of March 2023:

• Dendrobium discolor var. broomfieldii (Fitzg.) A.D.Hawkes{{cite web |title=Dendrobium discolor var. broomfieldii |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60461233-2 |publisher=Plants of the World Online |access-date=23 March 2023}} – or canary orchid has greenish yellow to bright golden yellow flowers from April to December, and occurs on the Whitsunday Islands.{{rp|396}}
• Dendrobium discolor Lindl. subsp. discolor{{cite web |title=Dendrobium discolor subsp. discolor |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:168062-3 |publisher=Plants of the World Online |access-date=23 March 2023}} – or golden antler orchid has light brown to dark brown, sometimes yellow to yellowish brown flowers with mauve to purple markings on the labellum, between August and November and occurs in Queensland, from the some Torres Strait Islands to Rockhampton.{{rp|396}}
• Dendrobium discolor var. fimbrilabium (Rchb.f.) Dockrill occurs in parts of Indonesia, New Guinea and Queensland.{{cite web |title=Dendrobium discolor var. fimbrilabium |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:108899-3 |publisher=Plants of the World Online |access-date=23 March 2023}}{{cite journal |last1=Reichenbach |first1=Heinrich Gustav |title=New garden plants |journal=The Gardeners' Chronicle |date=1878 |volume=9 |page=40 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/84216#page/54/mode/1up |accessdate=21 November 2018}}
• Dendrobium discolor var. fuscum (Fitzg.) Dockrill{{cite web |title=Dendrobium discolor var. fuscum |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:108914-3 |publisher=Plants of the World Online |access-date=23 March 2023}} – or brown antler orchid has relatively small, reddish brown to dark brown flowers with mauve to purple markings on the labellum from April to December and occurs in Queensland, from the some Torres Strait Islands to Mackay.{{rp|395}}
• Dendrobium discolor subsp. incurvata. Liddle & P.I.Forst. occurs in Papua New Guinea and Queensland.{{cite web |title=Dendrobium discolor subsp. incurvata |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:951607-1 |publisher=Plants of the World Online |access-date=23 March 2023}}{{cite journal |last1=Liddle |first1=David J. |last2=Forster |first2=Paul I. |title=The recognition of subspecies in Dendrobium discolor Lindley (Orchidaceae) |journal=Austrobaileya |date=1990 |volume=3 |issue=2 |page=320 |jstor=41738767 }}

Antler orchid grows in coastal scrub and on mangroves, in coastal rainforest, and woodland, sometimes on rocks. It occurs in Queensland, including on the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, New Guinea as well as in the Maluku Islands and Sulawesi in Indonesia.{{cite web |title=Dendrobium discolor |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:627312-1 |publisher=Plants of the World Online |access-date=9 November 2022}}{{cite book |last1=Cribb |first1=Alan B. |last2=Cribb |first2=Joan W. |title=Plant life of the Great Barrier Reef and adjacent shores |date=1985 |publisher=University of Queensland Press |location=St. Lucia |isbn=0702219843|page=172}}

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discolor

Category:Orchids of Indonesia

Category:Orchids of New Guinea

Category:Orchids of Queensland

Category:Plants described in 1841