Dipodium ensifolium, commonly known as leafy hyacinth-orchid,[1] is an orchid species that is endemic to north-east Queensland. It has sword-shaped leaves and up to twenty pink to mauve flowers with purplish spots and blotches.
Dipodium ensifolium is a tuberous, perennial herb with from one to a few leafy stems NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long with overlapping sword-shaped leaves NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and about 15sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. Flowering stems NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long develop in upper leaf axils, each with between two and twenty pink to mauve flowers with purplish spots and blotches, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide.The sepals are NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, about 6sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and the petals are slightly shorter and narrower. The sepals and petals are free from each other and spread widely apart. The labellum is pink to mauve and projects forwards, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide with a narrow central band of mauve hairs. Flowering occurs between October and February.[2]
Dipodium ensifolium was formally described in 1865 by Ferdinand von Mueller from a specimen collected on rocky mountains near Rockingham Bay.[3] The specific epithet (ensifolium) is derived from the Latin words ensis meaning "sword"[4] and folium meaning "leaf".
The leafy hyacinth orchid grows in forest and woodland between Cooktown and Ingham. Plants develop long, lanky growths except when above ground parts are destroyed by fire, when they quickly produce new growth.
The flowers of this orchid are pollinated by small native bees.
This orchid is easily grown in pots in warm climates and bright light.