Sarcochilus serrulatus, commonly known as the banded butterfly orchid,[1] is an epiphytic orchid endemic to tropical North Queensland. It has up to six crowded leaves with finely toothed and wavy edges and up to ten reddish brown flowers with a white, yellow-banded labellum.
Sarcochilus serrulatus is an epiphytic herb with a stem NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long with between three and six curved leaves NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and about 20sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The leaves are oblong to egg-shaped with wavy edges that have fine teeth. Between two and ten reddish brown flowers NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide are arranged on a fleshy, club-shaped flowering stem NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long. The dorsal sepal is NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and wide whilst the lateral sepals are NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide. The petals are shorter and narrower than the lateral sepals. The labellum is white with reddish and yellowish markings, about 4sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and wide with three lobes. The side lobes are erect and curve inwards and the middle lobe is fleshy with a spur about 3sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long. Flowering occurs between August and January.[2]
Sarcochilus serrulatus was first formally described in 1972 by David Jones and the description was published in The Victorian Naturalist.[3] [4] The specific epithet (serrulatus) is derived from the Latin word serra meaning "toothed like a saw".[5]
The banded butterfly orchid grows on trees in dense rainforest, usually near streams. It is only known from the Tablelands Region of north Queensland.