Dendrobium canaliculatum explained

Dendrobium canaliculatum, commonly known as the brown tea tree orchid or thin tea tree orchid,^[1] is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has cone-shaped or onion-shaped pseudobulbs, up to six deeply channelled, dark green leaves and up to thirty star-shaped, light brown to caramel-coloured white or greenish to apricot-coloured flowers with darker tips. It grows in tropical North Queensland and New Guinea.

Description

Dendrobium canaliculatum is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb that has cone-shaped to onion-shaped pseudobulbs NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide, each with between two and six leaves on the top. The leaves are dark green, deeply channelled, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The flowering stem is NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and bears between five and thirty resupinate light brown to caramel-coloured flowers. The flowers are long lasting, pleasantly scented, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide. The sepals and petal are twisted near their tips, the sepals NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide. The petals are spatula-shaped, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and about 3sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The labellum is white with purplish marks, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and has three lobes. The side lobes curve upwards and the middle lobe has three wavy ridges. Flowering occurs between August and November.^{[2] [3]}

Taxonomy and naming

Dendrobium canaliculatum was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown and the description was published in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.^{[4] [5]} The specific epithet (canaliculatum) is a Latin word meaning "channelled" or "grooved".^[6]

There are two varieties of this orchid:

• Dendrobium canaliculatum var. canaliculatum – the brown tea tree orchid which usually grows on stunted trees in woodland, grassy forest and along streams on the Cape York Peninsula and in southern New Guinea.
• Dendrobium canaliculatum var. foelschi (F.Muell.) Rupp & T.E.Hunt – the thin tea tree orchid, which is smaller than var. canaliculum in all its parts, has white flowers with yellow or tan tips, grows in coastal areas, often on the freshwater mangrove (Barringtonia acutangula) and occurs in northern parts of the Northern Territory, Queensland, including some of the Torres Strait Islands and the Kimberley region of Western Australia.^[7]

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. 381.
2. Web site: D.L.Jones . T.Hopley . S.M.Duffy . David L. Jones (botanist) . 2010 . 30 May 2021 . Factsheet - Cepobaculum canaliculatum . . Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government.
3. Web site: Dendrobium canaliculatum . Orchids of New Guinea . 18 November 2018.
4. Web site: Dendrobium canaliculatum. 18 November 2018.
5. Book: Brown . Robert . Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen . 1810 . London . 333 . 18 November 2018.
6. Book: Brown. Roland Wilbur. The Composition of Scientific Words. 1956. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington, D.C.. 274.
7. Web site: D.L.Jones . T.Hopley . S.M.Duffy . David L. Jones (botanist) . 2010 . 30 May 2021 . Factsheet - Cepobaculum foelschei . . Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government.