Trachoma papuanum, commonly known as the yellow spectral orchid,[1] is an epiphytic or lithophytic clump-forming orchid with a between three and six thick, fleshy leaves and many dull yellow flowers with a white labellum opening in groups of up to four. This orchid occurs in New Guinea, Queensland and some islands in the South Pacific.
Trachoma papuanum is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb that forms clumps with a few thin roots and branching stems NaNmm long. There are between three and six thick, fleshy, elliptic to egg-shaped, dark green leaves NaNmm long, about 20mm wide and arranged in two ranks. A large number of short-lived, pale yellow, cup-shaped, resupinate flowers NaNmm long and NaNmm wide are arranged on a flowering stem NaNmm long. Up to four flowers are open at the same time. The sepals are about 5mm long and 3mm wide, the petals about 4mm long and 1mm wide. The labellum is about 4mm long and 5mm wide with three short lobes and a spur about 1.5mm long. Flowering occurs from February to April.[2] [3] [4]
The yellow spectral orchid was first formally described in 1913 by Rudolf Schlechter who gave it the name Saccolabium papuanum and published the description in Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis Beihefte.[5] [6] In 1989 Mark Clements, Jeffrey Wood and David Jones changed the name to Trachoma pupuanum. The specific epithet (papuanum) refers to the type location, the ending -anum a Latin suffix meaning "pertaining to" or "belonging to".[7]
Trachoma papuanum grows on rainforest trees often on branches over streams and in other humid places. It is found in New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Niue, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, the Cook Islands, the Society Islands, Tubuai and Queensland where it grows between Cairns and Innisfail.[8] [9]