Phaius pictus

Phaius pictus
Illustration by Lewis Roberts
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Genus: Phaius
Species: P. pictus
Binomial name
Phaius pictus
T.E.Hunt [1]

Phais pictus, or forest swamp orchid, is a vulnerable rainforest terrestrial orchid of the genus Phaius. It is found from 0–600 metres in a relatively small restricted area in the McIlwraith Range, and from the Bloomfield River to the Kirrama Range, in Far North Queensland, Australia.[2] The type specimen was collected from Bellenden Ker Range in Queensland.[3]

Description

It flowers from April to June. The stems are 5 to 6 mm above ground, cylindrical to angular. The pleated leaves are broad and the flowers are yellow outside and brick red internally.[4]

Range and habitat

It is very localised and restricted to rainforest regions, preferring humid sheltered sites close to streams or areas of seepage, or among boulders and forest litter.

Status

Listed as vulnerable by the Australian Commonwealth EPBC Act Listing Status.[5]

Footnotes

  1. ↑  Phaius pictus was first described and published in Victorian Naturalist 69: 27 1952. "Phaius pictus T.E.Hunt". The Plant List; Version 1. (published on the internet). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden. 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  2. ↑ Jones (1997), p. 362.
  3. ↑ "Plant Name Details for Genus epithet". IPNI. Retrieved 6 January 2012. Type Information: "Queensland - Cook District, on Bellenden Ker Range above 2,000 feet. Leg. J.H. Wilkie, May, 1947.
  4. ↑ Jones (2006), p. 362.
  5. ↑ Checked on 23 Feb. 2011.

References

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