Robiquetia gracilistipes
{{Short description|Species of orchid}}
{{Speciesbox
|image=LR067 72dpi Robiquetia gracilistipes.jpg
|image_caption=Illustration by Lewis Roberts
|genus=Robiquetia
|species=gracilistipes
|authority=(Schltr.) J.J.Sm.{{WCSP |179157 |Robiquetia gracilistipes}}
|synonyms=* Saccolabium gracilistipes Schltr. in K.M.Schumann & C.A.G.Lauterbach
- Saccolabium squamulosum J.J.Sm.
- Robiquetia squamulosa (J.J.Sm.) J.J.Sm.
- Saccolabium tierneyanum Rupp
- Robiquetia tierneyana (Rupp) Dockrill
}}
Robiquetia gracilistipes, commonly known as the large pouched 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|pages=444–445}} is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid from the family Orchidaceae that forms large, hanging, straggly clumps. It has long, thick, roots, a single stem, many thick, leathery leaves and up to forty cream-coloured, pale green or brownish flowers with red spots and a three-lobed labellum. It grows on trees and rocks in rainforest, usually in bright light. It is found in Malesia including New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and tropical North Queensland, Australia.
Description
Robiquetia gracilistipes is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb that forms large, straggly hanging clumps. It has thick roots and a pendulous stem, {{convert|30-150|cm|in|sigfig=2}} long and about {{convert|6|mm|in|frac=4}} thick. There are many thick, leathery leaves {{cvt|15-25|cm|in|sigfig=2}} long and {{cvt|35-60|mm|in|sigfig=2}} wide. Between ten and forty resupinate, cup-shaped, cream-coloured, pale green or brownish flowers with red spots are crowded on a pendulous flowering stem {{cvt|15-30|cm|in|sigfig=2}} long. The flowers are {{cvt|9-11|mm|in|sigfig=2}} long, {{cvt|6-7|mm|in|sigfig=2}} and are fragrant. The sepals and petals are fleshy, oblong to egg-shaped, {{cvt|3-4|mm|in|sigfig=2}} long and about {{cvt|2.5|mm|in|sigfig=2}} wide. The labellum is yellow, about {{cvt|6|mm|in|sigfig=2}} long and {{cvt|4|mm|in|sigfig=2}} wide with three lobes. The middle lobe is fleshy, about {{cvt|2|mm|in|sigfig=2}} long with a downturned spur about {{cvt|4|mm|in|sigfig=2}} long. Flowering occurs from March to May.{{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/Robiquetia_gracilistipes.htm |title=Factsheet - Robiquetia gracilistipes |website=Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids |publisher=Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government}}{{cite web |title=Robiquetia gracilistipes |url=http://www.orchidsnewguinea.com/orchid-information/species/speciescode/905 |publisher=Orchids of New Guinea |access-date=2 January 2019}}
Taxonomy and naming
The large pouched orchid was first formally described in 1905 by Rudolf Schlechter who gave it the name Saccolabium gracilistipes and published the description in Die Flora der Deutschen Schutzgebiete in der Sudsee und Nachtrage.{{cite web|title=Saccolabium gracilistipes|url=https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/591358|publisher=APNI|access-date=2 January 2019}} In 1912 Johannes Jacobus Smith changed the name to Robiquetia gracilistipes.{{cite web|title=Robiquetia gracilistipes|url=https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/464372|publisher=APNI|access-date=2 January 2019}} The specific epithet (gracilistipes) is derived from the Latin word gracilis meaning "slender" or "thin"{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Roland Wilbur|title=The Composition of Scientific Words|date=1956|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.}}{{rp|376}} and stipes meaning "stock", "stem" or "trunk".{{rp|754}}
Distribution and habitat
The large pouched orchid grows on trees and rocks in rainforest, usually in strong light. It occurs in Malesia, including New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Queensland, Australia where it is found from the Iron Range to Ingham.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q15494944|from2=Q15492686}}
Category:Endemic orchids of Australia
Category:Orchids of Queensland