Crepidium flavovirens explained

Crepidium flavovirens, commonly known as the green spur orchid,[1] is a plant in the orchid family and is endemic to tropical far North Queensland. It is an evergreen, terrestrial orchid with a fleshy stem, wavy leaves and many yellowish green flowers crowded on a green flowering stem.

Description

Crepidium flavovirens is a terrestrial, evergreen herb which forms loose clumps with up to six fleshy, upright stems NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. There are between four and ten more or less upright leaves NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The leaves are dark green, shiny and asymmetrical. A large number of crowded, yellowish green, non-resupinate flowers and many bracts are crowded along a brittle green flowering stem NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long. The flowers are NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The dorsal sepals is NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long, about 2sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and turns downward. The lateral sepals are about 4sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and 2sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and spread apart from each other. The petals are a similar length but less than 1sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and curve downwards. The labellum is horseshoe-shaped, about 5sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and wide with between six and eight teeth near its tip. Flowering occurs between January and May.[2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Crepidium flavovirens was first formally described in 1997 by David Jones and Mark Clements from a specimen collected near Malanda. The description was published in the journal Novon.[4] The specific epithet (flavovirens) is from the Latin words flavus meaning “golden-yellow” or "yellow"[5] and virens meaning "green".

Distribution and habitat

The green spur orchid grows in leaf litter, often on steep slopes near streams in rainforest between Mossman and Tully.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jones. David L.. A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. 2006. New Holland. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.. 1877069124. 355.
  2. Jones . David L. . Clements . Mark A. . Crepidium flavovirens, a new species of Orchidaceae from Australia . Novon . 1997 . 7 . 4 . 376–378 . 22 October 2018 . 10.2307/3391768. 3391768 .
  3. Web site: D.L.Jones . T.Hopley . S.M.Duffy . David L. Jones (botanist) . 2010 . 31 May 2021 . Factsheet - Crepidium flavovirens . . Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government.
  4. Web site: Crepidium flavovirens. APNI. 22 October 2018.
  5. Book: Brown. Roland Wilbur. The Composition of Scientific Words. 1956. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington, D.C..