Dryadorchis Explained

Dryadorchis is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It is endemic to New Guinea.^[1]

Description

The stems are very short, and they bear subfalcate leaves. The racemose inflorescences have a swollen rhachis. They produce short-lived flowers with a long, slim column, which houses four pollinia. The unspurred labellum has a concavity in its centre.^[2]

Etymology

The genus name of Dryadorchis refers to Dryad, a tree nymph or tree spirit in Greek mythology.^[3]

Ecology

Dryadorchis grows epiphytically at elevations of 0-1700 m above sea level.

Taxonomy

Proposed merging with other genera

It was proposed to merge this genus with Sarcochilus and Thrixspermum, which however was rejected.^[4]

Species

It contains 5 known species, which are all endemic to New Guinea:^{[5] [6]}

1. Dryadorchis barbellata Schltr.
2. Dryadorchis dasystele Schuit. & de Vogel
3. Dryadorchis huliorum (Schuit.) Christenson & Schuit.
4. Dryadorchis minor Schltr.
5. Dryadorchis singularis (J.J.Sm.) Christenson & Schuit.

See also

• List of Orchidaceae genera

Notes and References

1. Marshall, A., & Beehler, B. (2011). "Ecology of Indonesian Papua Part One." Tuttle Publishing.
2. Schuiteman, A., & Ormerod, P. (1998). "Ophioglossella (Orchidaceae-Aeridinae), a new genus from Papua New Guinea." Kew Bulletin, 741-745.
3. Book: Burkhardt, Lotte . Eine Enzyklopädie zu eponymischen Pflanzennamen . Encyclopedia of eponymic plant names . Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum, Freie Universität Berlin . 2022 . 978-3-946292-41-8 . pdf . German . Berlin . 10.3372/epolist2022 . 246307410 . January 27, 2022.
4. Schuiteman, A., & Christenson, E. A. (1995). "A synopsis of Dryadorchis Schltr.(Orchidaceae)." Blumea: Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants, 40(2), 421-424.

5. 29352-1

   . Dryadorchis Schltr. . 14 January 2022.
6. Berg Pana, H. 2005. Handbuch der Orchideen-Namen. Dictionary of Orchid Names. Dizionario dei nomi delle orchidee. Ulmer, Stuttgart