Nervilia uniflora
{{Short description|Species of orchid}}
{{Italic title}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Red shield orchid
| image =
| image_caption =
| genus = Nervilia
| species = uniflora
| authority = (F.Muell.) Schltr.{{WCSP | 135359 | Nervilia uniflora }}
| synonyms =
- Pogonia uniflora F.Muell.
}}
Nervilia uniflora, commonly known as the red shield orchid,{{cite book|last1=Jones|first1=David L.|title=A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories|date=2006|publisher=New Holland|location=Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.|isbn=1877069124|page =282}} is a small terrestrial orchid found in northern Queensland. It has a single short-lived, pink or mauve flower. A dark green, heart-shaped leaf emerges at the base of the flowering stem after flowering.
Description
Nervilia uniflora is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herb which grows in colonies with only a few individuals producing flowers in any one year. A single pink or mauve flower {{convert|25-30|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long and wide are borne on a flowering stem {{convert|100-200|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} tall. The sepals are {{convert|18-23|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and about {{convert|3|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide and the petals are similar but slightly shorter and narrower. The labellum is pink to mauve, {{convert|14-18|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|5-6|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} wide with three lobes, the middle lobe turned downwards. After flowering, a single heart-shaped leaf develops, including on those plants that did not flower. The leaf is dark green on the upper surface, reddish below, {{convert|25-35|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} wide and held horizontally above ground level. Flowering occurs between November and January.{{cite web |author1=D.L.Jones |author2=T.Hopley |author3=S.M.Duffy |author1-link=David L. Jones (botanist) |year=2010 |access-date=31 May 2021 |url=http://www.canbr.gov.au/cpbr/cd-keys/RFKOrchids/key/rfkorchids/Media/Html/Nervilia_uniflora.htm |title=Factsheet - Nervilia uniflora |website=Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids |publisher=Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government}}
Taxonomy and naming
The red shield orchid was first formally described in 1866 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name Pogonia uniflora and published the description in Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae.{{cite web|title=Pogonia uniflora|url=https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/478104|publisher=APNI|accessdate=18 August 2018}}{{cite book |last1=von Mueller |first1=Ferdinand |title=Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae |date=1866 |volume=5 |location=Melbourne |page=201 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/7222#page/210/mode/1up |accessdate=18 August 2018}} In 1906 Rudolf Schlechter changed the name to Nervilia uniflora.{{cite web|title=Nervilia uniflora|url=https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/500740|publisher=APNI|accessdate=18 August 2018}} The specific epithet (uniflora) means "one-flowered".{{cite book |last1=Sharr |first1=Francis Aubi |last2=George |first2=Alex |title=Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings |date=2019 |publisher=Four Gables Press |location=Kardinya, WA |isbn=9780958034180 |page=332 |edition=3rd}}
Distribution and habitat
Nervilia uniflora occurs in north Queensland between Cooktown and Proserpine. It grows in woodland, forest and rainforest.
References
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{{Taxonbar|from= Q15499217}}
Category:Plants described in 1866